Fig. 2: VAED model development study: relative body weight, activity, viral loads and neutralizing antibody responses in hamsters after different regimens of FIWV vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 challenge infection.

a Relative body weight over time expressed as percentage of body weight on the day of challenge (0 DPI) (n = 8 per group up to 5 DPI and n = 4 between 6 DPI and 13 DPI; n = 7 and n = 3 respectively for group 1x high dose). b Mean area under the curve (AUC) per group for the period when the mock-vaccinated group had the lowest body weight, 5 to 7 DPI. Hamsters sacrificed on 13 DPI were used for the calculation (n = 4 or n = 3 for group 1x high dose). Only significant differences are indicated. c Hamster activity over time, expressed as running wheel rotation counts (n = 4 (n = 3 for group 1x high dose)). d AUC (log-transformed counts) of the 4 days encompassing the period of activity recovery (7–10 DPI), calculated for each hamster. Calculations and data display were performed on log-transformed counts. e Viral RNA loads in lungs, as measured by RT-qPCR detecting subgenomic viral RNA. The 50% limit of detection of the PCR assay is indicated by the dotted line. f Neutralizing antibody titers per treatment group displayed over time; n = 12 for study days −34, −15 and -2/−1; n = 4 (n = 3 for group 1x high dose) for 5 and 13 DPI. The dotted line represents the detection limit of the test. Only statistically significant differences are indicated. a–d Symbols show group means. e, f Symbols show individual values and bars illustrate group means. Error bars in plots a and c show SD (standard deviation), and in all other plots 95% CI (confidence intervals). Differences with p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Level of significance is illustrated with asterisks for the following p values: 0.01 to 0.05 - *; 0.001 to 0.01 - **; 0.0001 to 0.001 - ***; <0.0001 - ****; ns not significant (≥0.05). DPI days post infection.