ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) or nCoV-19-Beta (AZD2816) protect Syrian hamsters against Beta Delta and Omicron variants

Neeltje van Doremalen, Jonathan E. Schulz, Danielle R. Adney, Taylor A. Saturday, Robert J. Fischer, Claude Kwe Yinda, Nazia Thakur, Joseph Newman, Marta Ulaszewska, Sandra Belij-Rammerstorfer, Greg Saturday, Alexandra J. Spencer, Dalan Bailey, Colin A. Russell, Sarah C. Gilbert, Teresa Lambe, Vincent J. Munster

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) is a replication-deficient simian adenovirus–vectored vaccine encoding the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2, based on the first published full-length sequence (Wuhan-1). AZD1222 has been shown to have 74% vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease in clinical trials. However, variants of concern (VoCs) have been detected, with substitutions that are associated with a reduction in virus neutralizing antibody titer. Updating vaccines to include S proteins of VoCs may be beneficial, even though current real-world data is suggesting good efficacy following boosting with vaccines encoding the ancestral S protein. Using the Syrian hamster model, we evaluate the effect of a single dose of AZD2816, encoding the S protein of the Beta VoC, and efficacy of AZD1222/AZD2816 as a heterologous primary series against challenge with the Beta or Delta variant. Minimal to no viral sgRNA could be detected in lungs of vaccinated animals obtained at 3- or 5- days post inoculation, in contrast to lungs of control animals. In Omicron-challenged hamsters, a single dose of AZD2816 or AZD1222 reduced virus shedding. Thus, these vaccination regimens are protective against the Beta, Delta, and Omicron VoCs in the hamster model.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4610
JournalNature communications
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2022

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