[PDF][PDF] Vaccine protection against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in macaques

A Chandrashekar, J Yu, K McMahan, C Jacob-Dolan… - Cell, 2022 - cell.com
Cell, 2022cell.com
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B. 1.1. 529) variant, including in highly
vaccinated populations, has raised important questions about the efficacy of current
vaccines. In this study, we show that the mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine and the
adenovirus-vector-based Ad26. COV2. S vaccine provide robust protection against high-
dose challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in cynomolgus macaques. We
vaccinated 30 macaques with homologous and heterologous prime-boost regimens with …
Summary
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, including in highly vaccinated populations, has raised important questions about the efficacy of current vaccines. In this study, we show that the mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine and the adenovirus-vector-based Ad26.COV2.S vaccine provide robust protection against high-dose challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in cynomolgus macaques. We vaccinated 30 macaques with homologous and heterologous prime-boost regimens with BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S. Following Omicron challenge, vaccinated macaques demonstrated rapid control of virus in bronchoalveolar lavage, and most vaccinated animals also controlled virus in nasal swabs. However, 4 vaccinated animals that had moderate Omicron-neutralizing antibody titers and undetectable Omicron CD8+ T cell responses failed to control virus in the upper respiratory tract. Moreover, virologic control correlated with both antibody and T cell responses. These data suggest that both humoral and cellular immune responses contribute to vaccine protection against a highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant.
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