Antibody quality and protection from lethal Ebola virus challenge in nonhuman primates immunized with rabies virus based bivalent vaccine

PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(5):e1003389. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003389. Epub 2013 May 30.

Abstract

We have previously described the generation of a novel Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine platform based on (a) replication-competent rabies virus (RABV), (b) replication-deficient RABV, or (c) chemically inactivated RABV expressing EBOV glycoprotein (GP). Mouse studies demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of these live or inactivated RABV/EBOV vaccines. Here, we evaluated these vaccines in nonhuman primates. Our results indicate that all three vaccines do induce potent immune responses against both RABV and EBOV, while the protection of immunized animals against EBOV was largely dependent on the quality of humoral immune response against EBOV GP. We also determined if the induced antibodies against EBOV GP differ in their target, affinity, or the isotype. Our results show that IgG1-biased humoral responses as well as high levels of GP-specific antibodies were beneficial for the control of EBOV infection after immunization. These results further support the concept that a successful EBOV vaccine needs to induce strong antibodies against EBOV. We also showed that a dual vaccine against RABV and filoviruses is achievable; therefore addressing concerns for the marketability of this urgently needed vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Ebola Vaccines* / genetics
  • Ebola Vaccines* / immunology
  • Ebola Vaccines* / pharmacology
  • Ebolavirus* / genetics
  • Ebolavirus* / immunology
  • Female
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola* / immunology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola* / prevention & control
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Rabies Vaccines* / genetics
  • Rabies Vaccines* / immunology
  • Rabies Vaccines* / pharmacology
  • Rabies virus* / genetics
  • Rabies virus* / immunology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins* / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins* / immunology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Ebola Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Rabies Vaccines
  • Viral Matrix Proteins