A single dose of recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge

Yahalom-Ronen, Yfat; Tamir, Hadas; Melamed, Sharon; Politi, Boaz; Shifman, Ohad; Achdout, Hagit; Vitner, Einat B.; Israeli, Ofir; Milrot, Elad; Stein, Dana; Cohen-Gihon, Inbar; Lazar, Shlomi; Gutman, Hila; Glinert, Itai; Cherry, Lilach; Vagima, Yaron; Lazar, Shirley; Weiss, Shay; Ben-Shmuel, Amir; Avraham, Roy; Puni, Reut; Lupu, Edith; Bar-David, Elad; Sittner, Assa; Erez, Noam; Zichel, Ran; Mamroud, Emanuelle; Mazor, Ohad; Levy, Haim; Laskar, Orly; Yitzhaki, Shmuel; Shapira, Shmuel C.; Zvi, Anat; Beth-Din, Adi; Paran, Nir; Israely, Tomer

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 imposes an urgent need for rapid development of an efficient and cost-effective vaccine, suitable for mass immunization. Here, we show the development of a replication competent recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine, in which the glycoprotein of VSV is replaced by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In-vitro characterization of this vaccine indicates the expression and presentation of the spike protein on the viral membrane with antigenic similarity to SARS-CoV-2. A golden Syrian hamster in-vivo model for COVID-19 is implemented. We show that a single-dose vaccination results in a rapid and potent induction of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, vaccination protects hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, as demonstrated by the abrogation of body weight loss, and alleviation of the extensive tissue damage and viral loads in lungs and nasal turbinates. Taken together, we suggest the recombinant VSV-∆G-spike as a safe, efficacious and protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.