Intranasal vaccination of hamsters with a Newcastle disease virus vector expressing the S1 subunit protects animals against SARS-CoV-2 disease

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), has caused one of the most devastating pandemics in history. Biosecurity and control techniques offer short-term responses, while successful vaccine development ensures long-term COVID-19 protection. The NDV has been offered as a possible vector for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In mice and hamsters, the NDV vectored vaccine is safe, immunogenic, and protective against SARS-CoV2. The SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit and RBD antigens are expressed in a number of recombinant NDV-vectored nasal vaccination candidates. Intranasal delivery of rNDV-based vaccine candidates produced high levels of neutralizing antibodies, prevented damage to the lung, and dramatically decreased the viral load in vaccinated animals' respiratory tracts. NDV-based vaccine candidates fully protected animals against the SARS-CoV2 challenge and might be a viable weapon against COVID-19 in human clinical trials.

(MMR)