Immunology

Novel Lassa Virus, Rabies Vaccine Is Successful

Researchers have formulated a potential vaccine for Lassa virus (LASV) and rabies, known as LASSARAB, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

 

“We also demonstrate a previously unexplored role for non-neutralizing LASV GPC-specific antibodies as a major mechanism of protection by LASSARAB against [Lassa fever] through antibody-dependent cellular functions,” the researchers wrote. 

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Currently, there is no approved vaccine for LASV, although both LASV and rabies are common worldwide and highly prevalent in Africa.

 

The recombinant vaccine can protect against Lassa virus and rabies using a weakened rabies virus vector and genetic material from the Lassa virus.

 

These findings arose after the researchers studied the vaccine’s effects in mouse and guinea pig models.

 

“As our results demonstrate, LASSARAB induces high LASV GPC-specific IgG titers that correlate with protection prior to LASV exposure, in the absence of LASV NAbs,” the researchers wrote.

 

“This could potentially become a [Lassa fever] correlate of protection that would provide easy screening for vaccine efficacy post immunization. Additionally, the finding that GPC-specific non-NAbs play a crucial role in protecting mice against a LASV surrogate exposure suggests that non-NAb cellular effector functions should be further investigated as a correlate of protection in both LF vaccine development and mAb antibody therapy.”

 

—Amanda Balbi

 

References:

  1. Abreu-Mota T, Hagen KR, Cooper K, et al. Non-neutralizing antibodies elicited by recombinant Lassa–Rabies vaccine are critical for protection against Lassa fever [published online October 11, 2018]. Nature Comm. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06741-w.
  2. Scientists develop novel vaccine for Lassa fever and rabies [press release]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; October 11, 2018. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/scientists-develop-novel-vaccine-lassa-fever-rabies. Accessed October 12, 2018.