Ebola Vaccine Based on Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Is Safe and Effective in Immunocompromised Monkeys
Author Information
Author(s): Geisbert Thomas W., Daddario-DiCaprio Kathleen M., Lewis Mark G., Geisbert Joan B., Grolla Allen, Leung Anders, Paragas Jason, Matthias Lennox, Smith Mark A., Jones Steven M., Hensley Lisa E., Feldmann Heinz, Jahrling Peter B.
Primary Institution: National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Hypothesis
Can a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine safely protect immunocompromised individuals from Ebola virus infection?
Conclusion
The VSV-based Ebola vaccine is safe for immunocompromised populations and provides partial protection against lethal Ebola virus challenge.
Supporting Evidence
- All six vaccinated macaques showed no evidence of illness associated with the vaccine.
- Four out of six vaccinated macaques survived a lethal Ebola virus challenge.
- Animals that succumbed to the challenge had the lowest CD4+ T cell counts.
Takeaway
Scientists tested a new Ebola vaccine on monkeys with weakened immune systems and found it was safe and helped some of them survive a dangerous virus.
Methodology
The study involved vaccinating SHIV-infected rhesus macaques with a VSV-based Ebola vaccine and then challenging them with the Ebola virus to assess safety and efficacy.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and focused only on a specific population of immunocompromised monkeys.
Participant Demographics
Nine adult rhesus macaques infected with simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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