A single-dose F1-based mRNA-LNP vaccine provides protection against the lethal plague bacterium

Edo Kon, Yinon Levy, Uri Elia, Hila Cohen, Inbal Hazan-Halevy, Moshe Aftalion, Assaf Ezra, Erez Bar-Haim, Gonna Somu Naidu, Yael Diesendruck, Shahar Rotem, Nitay Ad-El, Meir Goldsmith, Emanuelle Mamroud, Dan Peer, Ofer Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Messenger RNA (mRNA) lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines have emerged as an effective vaccination strategy. Although currently applied toward viral pathogens, data concerning the platform’s effectiveness against bacterial pathogens are limited. Here, we developed an effective mRNA-LNP vaccine against a lethal bacterial pathogen by optimizing mRNA payload guanine and cytosine content and antigen design. We designed a nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP vaccine based on the bacterial F1 capsule antigen, a major protective component of Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of plague. Plague is a rapidly deteriorating contagious disease that has killed millions of people during the history of humankind. Now, the disease is treated effectively with antibiotics; however, in the case of a multiple-antibiotic-resistant strain outbreak, alternative countermeasures are required. Our mRNA-LNP vaccine elicited humoral and cellular immunological responses in C57BL/6 mice and conferred rapid, full protection against lethal Y. pestis infection after a single dose. These data open avenues for urgently needed effective antibacterial vaccines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereadg1036
Pages (from-to)eadg1036
JournalScience advances
Volume9
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 10 2023

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial/genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins/genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Plague Vaccine/genetics
  • Plague/prevention & control
  • Yersinia pestis/genetics

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