Single-shot Ad26 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2 in rhesus macaques

Nature. 2020 Oct;586(7830):583-588. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2607-z. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Abstract

A safe and effective vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be required to end the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic1-8. For global deployment and pandemic control, a vaccine that requires only a single immunization would be optimal. Here we show the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a single dose of adenovirus serotype 26 (Ad26) vector-based vaccines expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in non-human primates. Fifty-two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were immunized with Ad26 vectors that encoded S variants or sham control, and then challenged with SARS-CoV-2 by the intranasal and intratracheal routes9,10. The optimal Ad26 vaccine induced robust neutralizing antibody responses and provided complete or near-complete protection in bronchoalveolar lavage and nasal swabs after SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Titres of vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies correlated with protective efficacy, suggesting an immune correlate of protection. These data demonstrate robust single-shot vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates. The optimal Ad26 vector-based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, termed Ad26.COV2.S, is currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Macaca mulatta* / immunology
  • Macaca mulatta* / virology
  • Male
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination
  • Viral Load
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Viral Vaccines