An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus

Background: Since the outbreak of mpox in 2022, the disease has spread rapidly worldwide and garnered significant public attention. Vaccination is regarded as an effective measure to prevent the spread of mpox. The success of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine demonstrates that mRNA-based vaccines represent...

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Main Authors: Jun Zuo, Jiayu Wu, Zhen Zhang, Jinrong Long, Changxiao Yu, Yuqin Liao, Hongsheng Zhang, Jing Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/4/374
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author Jun Zuo
Jiayu Wu
Zhen Zhang
Jinrong Long
Changxiao Yu
Yuqin Liao
Hongsheng Zhang
Jing Yang
author_facet Jun Zuo
Jiayu Wu
Zhen Zhang
Jinrong Long
Changxiao Yu
Yuqin Liao
Hongsheng Zhang
Jing Yang
author_sort Jun Zuo
collection DOAJ
description Background: Since the outbreak of mpox in 2022, the disease has spread rapidly worldwide and garnered significant public attention. Vaccination is regarded as an effective measure to prevent the spread of mpox. The success of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine demonstrates that mRNA-based vaccines represent a rapid and multifunctional platform with considerable potential, and are expected to be a strategy to address mpox spread. Methods: In this study, we screened an mpox multi-antigen-tandem bivalent mRNA vaccine candidate: a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA-1017 and mRNA-1995 (mRNA-3012-LNP). We then evaluated the immunogenicity of the mpox virus (MPXV) bivalent mRNA vaccine candidate and its protective efficacy against the vaccinia virus (VACV) in a mouse model. Results: Mice vaccinated with two doses of the mRNA-3012-LNP vaccine exhibited robust binding antibody responses and MPXV-specific Th-1-biased cellular immune responses in vivo. Notably, the boosted immunized mice generated potent neutralizing antibodies against the VACV, effectively protecting them from viral challenge. Additionally, serum transfer protection experiments indicated that serum from mice inoculated with mRNA-3012-LNP was effective in protecting nude mice from VACV challenge. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the mpox bivalent mRNA candidate vaccine mRNA-3012-LNP induces strong immunogenicity and has the potential to serve as a safe and effective vaccine candidate against mpox epidemics.
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spelling doaj-art-ed51fb60882a40c68079e368164a691d2025-08-20T03:13:57ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-03-0113437410.3390/vaccines13040374An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia VirusJun Zuo0Jiayu Wu1Zhen Zhang2Jinrong Long3Changxiao Yu4Yuqin Liao5Hongsheng Zhang6Jing Yang7College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100#, District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100#, District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, ChinaBioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing 100850, ChinaBackground: Since the outbreak of mpox in 2022, the disease has spread rapidly worldwide and garnered significant public attention. Vaccination is regarded as an effective measure to prevent the spread of mpox. The success of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine demonstrates that mRNA-based vaccines represent a rapid and multifunctional platform with considerable potential, and are expected to be a strategy to address mpox spread. Methods: In this study, we screened an mpox multi-antigen-tandem bivalent mRNA vaccine candidate: a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA-1017 and mRNA-1995 (mRNA-3012-LNP). We then evaluated the immunogenicity of the mpox virus (MPXV) bivalent mRNA vaccine candidate and its protective efficacy against the vaccinia virus (VACV) in a mouse model. Results: Mice vaccinated with two doses of the mRNA-3012-LNP vaccine exhibited robust binding antibody responses and MPXV-specific Th-1-biased cellular immune responses in vivo. Notably, the boosted immunized mice generated potent neutralizing antibodies against the VACV, effectively protecting them from viral challenge. Additionally, serum transfer protection experiments indicated that serum from mice inoculated with mRNA-3012-LNP was effective in protecting nude mice from VACV challenge. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the mpox bivalent mRNA candidate vaccine mRNA-3012-LNP induces strong immunogenicity and has the potential to serve as a safe and effective vaccine candidate against mpox epidemics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/4/374mpoxtandembivalentmRNA vaccineVACV
spellingShingle Jun Zuo
Jiayu Wu
Zhen Zhang
Jinrong Long
Changxiao Yu
Yuqin Liao
Hongsheng Zhang
Jing Yang
An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
Vaccines
mpox
tandem
bivalent
mRNA vaccine
VACV
title An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
title_full An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
title_fullStr An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
title_full_unstemmed An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
title_short An Mpox Multi-Antigen-Tandem Bivalent mRNA Candidate Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice Against the Vaccinia Virus
title_sort mpox multi antigen tandem bivalent mrna candidate vaccine effectively protects mice against the vaccinia virus
topic mpox
tandem
bivalent
mRNA vaccine
VACV
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/4/374
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