combination attenuation offers strategy for live attenuated coronavirus vaccines

• DOI: 10.17615/xghs-wp15
• Publication Date: 2018-04-28
• Authors: Ralph S. Baric; Eileen T. McAnarney; Eileen T. McAnarney; Vineet D. Menachery; Boyd Yount; Sarah R. Leist; Kenneth H. Dinnon; Katrina M. Waters; Rachel L. Graham; Hugh D. Mitchell; Lisa E. Gralinski
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Aging; Archaeal Proteins; Immunology; Viral Nonstructural Proteins; Vaccines, Attenuated; Virus Replication; Methylation; Microbiology; Immunocompromised Host; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Virology; Chlorocebus aethiops; Animals; Vero Cells; Mice, Inbred BALB C; 0303 health sciences; Viral Vaccines; Methyltransferases; 3. Good health; Coronavirus; Disease Models, Animal; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Insect Science; Mutation; Coronavirus Infections

AbstractWith an ongoing threat posed by circulating zoonotic strains, new strategies are required to prepare for the next emergent coronavirus (CoV). Previously, groups had targeted conserved coronavirus proteins as a strategy to generate live-attenuated vaccine strains against current and future CoVs. With this in mind, we explored whether manipulation of CoV NSP16, a conserved 2’O methyltransferase (MTase), could provide a broad attenuation platform against future emergent strains. Using the SARS-CoV mouse model, a NSP16 mutant vaccine was evaluated for protection from heterologous challenge, efficacy in the aging host, and potential for reversion to pathogenesis. Despite some success, concerns for virulence in the aged and potential for reversion makes targeting NSP16 alone an untenable approach. However, combining a 2’O MTase mutation with a previously described CoV fidelity mutant produced a vaccine strain capable of protection from heterologous virus challenge, efficacy in aged mice, and no evidence for reversion. Together, the results indicate that targeting the CoV 2’O MTase in parallel with other conserved attenuating mutations may provide a platform strategy for rapidly generating live-attenuated coronavirus vaccines.SignificanceEmergent coronaviruses remain a significant threat to global public health and rapid response vaccine platforms are needed to stem future outbreaks. However, failure of many previous CoV vaccine formulations has clearly highlighted the need to test efficacy under different conditions and especially in vulnerable populations like the aged and immune-compromised. This study illustrates that despite success in young models, the NSP16 mutant carries too much risk for pathogenesis and reversion in vulnerable models to be used as a stand-alone vaccine strategy. Importantly, the NSP16 mutation can be paired with other attenuating approaches to provide robust protection from heterologous challenge and in vulnerable populations. Coupled with increased safety and reduced pathogenesis, the study highlights the potential for NSP16 attenuation as a major component of future live-attenuated coronavirus vaccines.