Conclusion
The mRNA vaccine RV021 induces a strong protective immune response in mice, providing a new and promising strategy for human rabies prevention and control.
Methods
Here, a non-replicating mRNA vaccine (RV021) encoding the rabies virus glycoprotein was developed in vitro, and its immunogenicity and protective efficacy against live virus was evaluated in mice.
Results
A two-dose vaccination with 1 μg of RV021 at 7-day intervals induced a protective level of neutralizing antibody that was maintained for at least 260 days. RV021 induced a robust cellular immune response that was significantly superior to that of an inactivated vaccine. Two doses of 1 μg RV021 provided full protection against challenge with CVS of 30~60-fold lethal dose, 50%. Vaccine potency testing (according to the National Institutes of Health) in vivo revealed that the potency of RV021 at 15 μg/dose was 7.5 IU/dose, which is substantially higher than the standard for lot release of rabies vaccines for current human use.