Fig. 5: A single-dose i.m. rVSV-∆G-spike vaccine safety and efficacy in hamsters following SARS-CoV-2 challenge.
From: A single dose of recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge
a Body weight changes of mock-vaccinated hamsters (n = 4), and hamsters vaccinated with rVSV-∆G-spike ranging from 104 to 108 pfu/hamster (n = 10, n = 11, n = 11, n = 11, n = 10, for each vaccinated group, respectively). b NT50 values of i.m. vaccinated hamsters’ sera (104–108 pfu/hamster) against SARS-CoV-2 (n = 4 for 104, 106, 107, and 108, n = 3 for 105). Means and SEM are indicated below the graph. c Representative immunofluorescence images of Vero E6 cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 (upper panels) or uninfected (lower panels), labeled with serum from either naive (left panel) or rVSV-∆G-spike (106 pfu/hamster) i.m. vaccinated hamsters (right panel). Representative images of three experiments are presented. Scale bars: 50 µm. d Body weight changes of hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2, and hamsters vaccinated with 104–108 pfu/hamster and infected with 5 × 106 pfu/hamster 25 days post vaccination. Arrow indicates 5 dpi—hamsters were sacrificed and lungs were removed for viral load. For vaccinated groups 104–107: days 0–5 (n = 12), days 6–12 (n = 9), 108 group: days 0–5 (n = 11), day 6–12 (n = 8). For unvaccinated infected: days 0–5 (n = 14), days 6–12 (n = 12). Statistical significance was determined using two-tailed one unpaired t-test per row, with correction for multiple comparisons using Holm–Sidak method. p < 0.005. e Viral loads in lungs (5 dpi) of hamsters infected with 5 × 106 pfu/hamster of SARS-CoV-2 (n = 7), and hamsters vaccinated with 104–108 pfu/hamster of rVSV-∆G-spike, and then infected with 5 × 106 pfu/hamster of SARS-CoV-2 (n = 3 for each vaccinated group). Limit of detection (LOD) 75 pfu/lung. All vaccinated groups show statistical significance, compared to infected unvaccinated group as determined by one-way ANOVA nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test, with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test, *p = 0.0012. Data for a, d, and e are presented as mean values ± SEM. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
