Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models

Background/Objectives: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for alternative prophylactic measures, particularly for populations for whom vaccines may not be effective or accessible. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intranasally administered IgY antibodies derived from he...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mónika Madai, Dániel Hanna, Roland Hetényi, Fanni Földes, Zsófia Lanszki, Brigitta Zana, Balázs Somogyi, Henrietta Papp, Anett Kuczmog, Orsolya Faragó-Sipos, Csaba Nemes, Vilmos Palya, Dávid Géza Horváth, Gyula Balka, Krisztián Bányai, Xinkai Jia, Péter Balogh, Pál Bajnóczi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1422
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850239206008291328
author Mónika Madai
Dániel Hanna
Roland Hetényi
Fanni Földes
Zsófia Lanszki
Brigitta Zana
Balázs Somogyi
Henrietta Papp
Anett Kuczmog
Orsolya Faragó-Sipos
Csaba Nemes
Vilmos Palya
Dávid Géza Horváth
Gyula Balka
Krisztián Bányai
Xinkai Jia
Péter Balogh
Pál Bajnóczi
author_facet Mónika Madai
Dániel Hanna
Roland Hetényi
Fanni Földes
Zsófia Lanszki
Brigitta Zana
Balázs Somogyi
Henrietta Papp
Anett Kuczmog
Orsolya Faragó-Sipos
Csaba Nemes
Vilmos Palya
Dávid Géza Horváth
Gyula Balka
Krisztián Bányai
Xinkai Jia
Péter Balogh
Pál Bajnóczi
author_sort Mónika Madai
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for alternative prophylactic measures, particularly for populations for whom vaccines may not be effective or accessible. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intranasally administered IgY antibodies derived from hen egg yolks as a protective agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian golden hamsters, a well-established animal model for COVID-19. Methods: Hens were immunized with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to generate IgY antibodies. These antibodies were extracted from the egg yolks, purified, and their neutralizing activity was tested in vitro. Syrian golden hamsters were then treated with the IgY antibodies before being challenged with SARS-CoV-2. Viral loads were quantified using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and lung pathology was assessed through histopathological analysis. Results: The in vitro assays showed that IgY effectively neutralized SARS-CoV-2. In the in vivo hamster model, IgY treatment led to a significant reduction in viral loads and a marked decrease in lung consolidation and inflammation compared to the positive control group. Histopathological findings further supported the protective role of IgY in reducing lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that IgY antibodies exhibit strong antiviral activity and can significantly reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and associated lung pathology in hamsters. These findings suggest that IgY could be a viable prophylactic option for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly for individuals who cannot receive or respond to vaccines. Further studies are warranted to optimize dosage and explore the long-term efficacy of IgY antibodies.
format Article
id doaj-art-eb9f1a59da7d4e07853e3b12a77bd4a4
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-393X
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-eb9f1a59da7d4e07853e3b12a77bd4a42025-08-20T02:01:14ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-12-011212142210.3390/vaccines12121422Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster ModelsMónika Madai0Dániel Hanna1Roland Hetényi2Fanni Földes3Zsófia Lanszki4Brigitta Zana5Balázs Somogyi6Henrietta Papp7Anett Kuczmog8Orsolya Faragó-Sipos9Csaba Nemes10Vilmos Palya11Dávid Géza Horváth12Gyula Balka13Krisztián Bányai14Xinkai Jia15Péter Balogh16Pál Bajnóczi17National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryProphyl Kft., 7700 Mohács, HungaryProphyl Kft., 7700 Mohács, HungaryProphyl Kft., 7700 Mohács, HungaryDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, HungaryNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryDepartment of Immunology and Biotechnology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryDepartment of Immunology and Biotechnology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, HungaryProphyl Kft., 7700 Mohács, HungaryBackground/Objectives: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for alternative prophylactic measures, particularly for populations for whom vaccines may not be effective or accessible. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intranasally administered IgY antibodies derived from hen egg yolks as a protective agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian golden hamsters, a well-established animal model for COVID-19. Methods: Hens were immunized with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to generate IgY antibodies. These antibodies were extracted from the egg yolks, purified, and their neutralizing activity was tested in vitro. Syrian golden hamsters were then treated with the IgY antibodies before being challenged with SARS-CoV-2. Viral loads were quantified using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and lung pathology was assessed through histopathological analysis. Results: The in vitro assays showed that IgY effectively neutralized SARS-CoV-2. In the in vivo hamster model, IgY treatment led to a significant reduction in viral loads and a marked decrease in lung consolidation and inflammation compared to the positive control group. Histopathological findings further supported the protective role of IgY in reducing lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that IgY antibodies exhibit strong antiviral activity and can significantly reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and associated lung pathology in hamsters. These findings suggest that IgY could be a viable prophylactic option for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly for individuals who cannot receive or respond to vaccines. Further studies are warranted to optimize dosage and explore the long-term efficacy of IgY antibodies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1422IgY antibodiesSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 prophylaxisSyrian golden hamsterviral neutralization
spellingShingle Mónika Madai
Dániel Hanna
Roland Hetényi
Fanni Földes
Zsófia Lanszki
Brigitta Zana
Balázs Somogyi
Henrietta Papp
Anett Kuczmog
Orsolya Faragó-Sipos
Csaba Nemes
Vilmos Palya
Dávid Géza Horváth
Gyula Balka
Krisztián Bányai
Xinkai Jia
Péter Balogh
Pál Bajnóczi
Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
Vaccines
IgY antibodies
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 prophylaxis
Syrian golden hamster
viral neutralization
title Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
title_full Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
title_fullStr Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
title_short Evaluating the Protective Role of Intranasally Administered Avian-Derived IgY Against SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian Hamster Models
title_sort evaluating the protective role of intranasally administered avian derived igy against sars cov 2 in syrian hamster models
topic IgY antibodies
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 prophylaxis
Syrian golden hamster
viral neutralization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1422
work_keys_str_mv AT monikamadai evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT danielhanna evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT rolandhetenyi evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT fannifoldes evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT zsofialanszki evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT brigittazana evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT balazssomogyi evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT henriettapapp evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT anettkuczmog evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT orsolyafaragosipos evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT csabanemes evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT vilmospalya evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT davidgezahorvath evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT gyulabalka evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT krisztianbanyai evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT xinkaijia evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT peterbalogh evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels
AT palbajnoczi evaluatingtheprotectiveroleofintranasallyadministeredavianderivedigyagainstsarscov2insyrianhamstermodels