Nipah virus vaccines evaluated in pigs as a ‘One Health’ approach to protect public health

TL;DR

Researchers tested three potential Nipah virus vaccines in pigs to prevent outbreaks and protect public health.

Contribution

The study evaluates three NiV vaccine candidates in pigs and identifies their distinct immune responses and protective efficacy.

Findings

NiV sG induced the strongest neutralizing antibody response.

All three vaccines provided high protection against NiV infection in pigs.

Immune responses were long-lasting and effective under field conditions in Bangladesh.

Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) causes a severe neurological disease in humans. The first NiV outbreak, in Malaysia, involved pig-to-human transmission, that resulted in significant economic losses to the local pig industry. Despite the risk NiV poses to pig-dense regions, no licensed vaccines exist. This study therefore assessed three NiV vaccine candidates in pigs: (1) adjuvanted soluble NiV (s)G protein, (2) adjuvanted pre-fusion stabilised NiV (mcs)F protein, and (3) adenoviral vectored NiV G (ChAdOx1 NiV G). NiV sG induced the strongest neutralising antibody response, NiV mcsF induced antibodies best able to neutralise cell-cell fusion, whereas ChAdOx1 NiV G elicited CD8+ T-cell responses. Despite differences in immunogenicity, prime-boost immunisation with all candidates conferred a high degree of protection against NiV infection. Follow-up studies demonstrated longevity of immune responses and broadly comparable immune responses in Bangladeshi pigs under field conditions. These studies provide a platform for developing a NiV vaccine for pigs.

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