Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague

Abstract Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, remains a significant global health hazard and a potential top‐tier biothreat despite modern medical advances. Here, two mRNA constructs encoding different versions of the low‐calcium response virulence (LcrV) protective antigen, an essential...

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Main Authors: Uri Elia, Yinon Levy, Hila Cohen, Ayelet Zauberman, David Gur, Inbal Hazan‐Halevy, Moshe Aftalion, Shani Benarroch, Erez Bar‐Haim, Orit Redy‐Keisar, Ofer Cohen, Dan Peer, Emanuelle Mamroud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501286
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author Uri Elia
Yinon Levy
Hila Cohen
Ayelet Zauberman
David Gur
Inbal Hazan‐Halevy
Moshe Aftalion
Shani Benarroch
Erez Bar‐Haim
Orit Redy‐Keisar
Ofer Cohen
Dan Peer
Emanuelle Mamroud
author_facet Uri Elia
Yinon Levy
Hila Cohen
Ayelet Zauberman
David Gur
Inbal Hazan‐Halevy
Moshe Aftalion
Shani Benarroch
Erez Bar‐Haim
Orit Redy‐Keisar
Ofer Cohen
Dan Peer
Emanuelle Mamroud
author_sort Uri Elia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, remains a significant global health hazard and a potential top‐tier biothreat despite modern medical advances. Here, two mRNA constructs encoding different versions of the low‐calcium response virulence (LcrV) protective antigen, an essential virulence factor of Y. pestis, are designed and evaluated. Next, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy both independently and in combination is assessed with the previously reported F1‐encoding mRNA construct in the well‐established mouse model of pneumonic plague. The findings reveal that human Fc‐conjugated F1 + LcrV combination mRNA vaccination resulted in significant immune activation and substantial protection against intranasal Y. pestis challenge. Notably, the combined vaccine demonstrates protective efficacy against two highly virulent wild‐type Y. pestis strains representing distinct biovars and an atypical, unencapsulated strain. This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of mRNA constructs encoding innovatively designed versions of LcrV and F1 for pneumonic plague prevention, addressing critical gaps in current vaccination approaches. This study establishes the mRNA‐lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform as a promising tool for addressing bacterial pathogens, including those resistant to antibiotics. By broadening its applicability to diverse threats, this technology represents an innovative approach to tackling some of the most pressing challenges in global health.
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spelling doaj-art-9d60a0feb9984758bc6b2905192391472025-08-20T03:36:45ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-07-011226n/an/a10.1002/advs.202501286Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic PlagueUri Elia0Yinon Levy1Hila Cohen2Ayelet Zauberman3David Gur4Inbal Hazan‐Halevy5Moshe Aftalion6Shani Benarroch7Erez Bar‐Haim8Orit Redy‐Keisar9Ofer Cohen10Dan Peer11Emanuelle Mamroud12Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelLaboratory of Precision NanoMedicine Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelLaboratory of Precision NanoMedicine Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Organic Chemistry Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelLaboratory of Precision NanoMedicine Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 IsraelDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Israel Institute for Biological Research Ness‐Ziona 76100 IsraelAbstract Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, remains a significant global health hazard and a potential top‐tier biothreat despite modern medical advances. Here, two mRNA constructs encoding different versions of the low‐calcium response virulence (LcrV) protective antigen, an essential virulence factor of Y. pestis, are designed and evaluated. Next, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy both independently and in combination is assessed with the previously reported F1‐encoding mRNA construct in the well‐established mouse model of pneumonic plague. The findings reveal that human Fc‐conjugated F1 + LcrV combination mRNA vaccination resulted in significant immune activation and substantial protection against intranasal Y. pestis challenge. Notably, the combined vaccine demonstrates protective efficacy against two highly virulent wild‐type Y. pestis strains representing distinct biovars and an atypical, unencapsulated strain. This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of mRNA constructs encoding innovatively designed versions of LcrV and F1 for pneumonic plague prevention, addressing critical gaps in current vaccination approaches. This study establishes the mRNA‐lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform as a promising tool for addressing bacterial pathogens, including those resistant to antibiotics. By broadening its applicability to diverse threats, this technology represents an innovative approach to tackling some of the most pressing challenges in global health.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501286lipid nanoparticlesmRNAvaccineY. pestis
spellingShingle Uri Elia
Yinon Levy
Hila Cohen
Ayelet Zauberman
David Gur
Inbal Hazan‐Halevy
Moshe Aftalion
Shani Benarroch
Erez Bar‐Haim
Orit Redy‐Keisar
Ofer Cohen
Dan Peer
Emanuelle Mamroud
Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
Advanced Science
lipid nanoparticles
mRNA
vaccine
Y. pestis
title Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
title_full Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
title_fullStr Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
title_full_unstemmed Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
title_short Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
title_sort novel bivalent mrna lnp vaccine for highly effective protection against pneumonic plague
topic lipid nanoparticles
mRNA
vaccine
Y. pestis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501286
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