ZyCoV-D SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine shows robust immunogenicity and protective efficacy in Rhesus macaquesys

A team of scientists from India has recently tested the efficacy and immunogenicity of two different concentrations of a plasmid DNA-based vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D. The findings reveal that the vaccine candidate administered via Needle Free Injection System (NFIS) can significantly induce the production of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein-specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies for a prolonged period. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

Background

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has placed a heavy burden on many countries' socioeconomic and healthcare structures.

Several efforts have been made to control the pandemic situation, including the repurposing of antiviral medicines and the development of potential vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Currently, two mRNA-based vaccines have received approval for emergency use in the USA, UK, Canada, and European Union, and two adenovirus-based replication incompetent viral vaccines are rolling out in the UK, Russia, and India.

However, because of the limited availability, COVID-19 vaccination programs are primarily focusing on immunizing healthcare and other front-line workers and at-risk individuals. Thus, to increase the vaccine coverage to the entire world population, more vaccines with good efficacy and safety are urgently needed.

In the current study, the scientists have assessed the SARS-CoV-2 infection protecting efficacy of a DNA-based vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D in rhesus macaques. Cadila Healthcare Limited, India have developed the vaccine candidate. They tested two different doses of the vaccine candidate (1 mg and 2 mg) and two different administration routes (NFIS and intradermal syringe needle injection).

Important observations

The scientists tested the efficacy of the vaccine candidate in inducing the production of viral spike S1 domain-specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies during the immunization and viral challenge phases.

Specifically, they observed that 1 mg and 2 mg doses of the vaccine candidate administered via NFIS and syringe needle, respectively, could induce immune responses in only a limited number of monkeys, whereas 2 mg dose administered via NFIS could significantly induce the production of spike S1-specific IgGs and neutralizing antibodies during the immunization and viral challenge phases. This indicates the importance of vaccine dose and delivery system in inducing desired immune responses.

According to the scientists, the vaccine candidate's increased immunogenicity under the 2 mg via NFIS regimen could be due to the known fact that the efficacy of DNA vaccines increases dose-dependently and that the needle-free delivery systems can further improve the efficacy by increasing either vaccine dispersion or local inflammation.

A robust antibody response induced by the 2 mg via NFIS regimen of the vaccine candidate was observed up until 14 weeks, further increasing in response to viral challenge and continued to 15 days post-infection. With the same regimen of the vaccine candidate, robust neutralizing antibody response was observed from 6 weeks, which continued to increase throughout the immunization phase.

A reduction in viral load was observed by day 7 post-infection in the throat and nasal samples collected from immunized monkeys. Complete viral clearance was observed by day 14 post-infection.

In addition, the 2 mg via NFIS regimen of the vaccine candidate was found to significantly increase the levels of lymphocytes and cytokines (IL-6 and IL-5), indicating a robust induction of host immune responses by the vaccine candidate.

A transient reduction in CD8+ T cell population was observed at days 1 and 3 post-infection. As suggested by the scientists, such a reduction in T cell level could be due to a reduction in blood levels of lymphocytes caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Study significance

The study findings reveal that 2 mg dose of the DNA-based vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D administered via NFIS is highly efficient in inducing both binding and neutralizing antibody titers in monkeys, indicating the immunogenic efficacy of the vaccine candidate.

The vaccine candidate is also effective in reducing the viral load in monkeys infected with SARS-CoV-2, indicating the vaccine candidate's protective efficacy.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information