LSDV-Vectored SARS-CoV-2 S and N Vaccine Protects against Severe Clinical Disease in Hamsters

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic demonstrated the need for potent and broad-spectrum vaccines. This study reports development testing of a lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV)-vectored vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, utilizing stabilized spike conserved nucleocapsid proteins as antigens to develop robust immunogenicity. Construction (LSDV-SARS2-S,N) was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification sequencing. In vitro characterization that cells infected with LSDV-SARS2-S,N expressed protein. BALB/c mice, elicited high magnitude IFN-γ ELISpot responses (spike: 2808 SFU/106 splenocytes) neutralizing antibodies (ID50 = 6552). Testing in hamsters, which emulate human COVID-19 progression, showed titers Wuhan Delta variants (Wuhan ID50 2905; 4648). Additionally, hamsters vaccinated displayed significantly less weight loss, lung damage, reduced viral RNA copies following infection variant compared controls, demonstrating protection disease. These data demonstrate LSDV-vectored vaccines display promise an effective potential platform communicable diseases humans animals. Further efficacy immune response analysis, particularly non-human primates, are warranted.