Inactivated rabies-based Lassa fever virus vaccine candidate LASSARAB protects nonhuman primates from lethal disease.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-9-2024
Abstract
Lassa fever virus (LASV), a member of the Arenavirus family, is the etiological agent of Lassa fever, a severe hemorrhagic disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality in the endemic areas of West Africa. LASV is a rodent-borne CDC Tier One biological threat agent and is on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Priority Pathogen list. Currently, no FDA-licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics are available. Here, we describe the efficacy of a deactivated rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccine encoding the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) of LASV (LASSARAB). Nonhuman primates (NHPs) were administered a two-dose regimen of LASSARAB or an irrelevant RABV-based vaccine to serve as a negative control. NHPs immunized with LASSARAB developed strong humoral responses to LASV-GPC. Upon challenge, NHPs vaccinated with LASSARAB survived to the study endpoint, whereas NHPs in the control group did not. This study demonstrates that LASSARAB is a worthy candidate for continued development.
Volume
9
Issue
1
First Page
143
Last Page
143
ISSN
2059-0105
Published In/Presented At
Scher, G., Yankowski, C., Kurup, D., Josleyn, N. M., Wilkinson, E. R., Wells, J., Steffens, J., Lynn, G., Vantongeren, S., Zeng, X., Twenhafel, N., Cashman, K. A., & Schnell, M. J. (2024). Inactivated rabies-based Lassa fever virus vaccine candidate LASSARAB protects nonhuman primates from lethal disease. NPJ vaccines, 9(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-00930-z
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
39122759
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article