Cited by 501Influenza Virus Research StudiesRNA Interference and Gene DeliveryImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

Self-amplifying RNA vaccines give equivalent protection against influenza to mRNA vaccines but at much lower doses

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Vogel, Annette B., Lambert, Laura, Kinnear, Ekaterina, Busse, David, Erbar, Stephanie, Reuter, Kerstin C., Wicke, Lena, Perkovic, Mario +5 more·2018·Molecular Therapy

Abstract

New vaccine platforms are needed to address the time gap between pathogen emergence and vaccine licensure. RNA-based vaccines are an attractive candidate for this role: they are safe, are produced cell free, and can be rapidly generated in response to pathogen emergence. Two RNA vaccine platforms are available: synthetic mRNA molecules encoding only the antigen of interest and self-amplifying RNA (sa-RNA). sa-RNA is virally derived and encodes both the antigen of interest and proteins enabling RNA vaccine replication. Both platforms have been shown to induce an immune response, but it is not clear which approach is optimal. In the current studies, we compared synthetic mRNA and sa-RNA expressing influenza virus hemagglutinin. Both platforms were protective, but equivalent levels of protection were achieved using 1.25 μg sa-RNA compared to 80 μg mRNA (64-fold less material). Having determined that sa-RNA was more effective than mRNA, we tested hemagglutinin from three strains of influenza H1N1, H3N2 (X31), and B (Massachusetts) as sa-RNA vaccines, and all protected against challenge infection. When sa-RNA was combined in a trivalent formulation, it protected against sequential H1N1 and H3N2 challenges. From this we conclude that sa-RNA is a promising platform for vaccines against viral diseases.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.11.017

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  • repRNA acts as its own adjuvant, eliciting more robust immune responses after a single dose relative to conventional mRNA which typically requires multiple, 1,000-fold higher doses.

    “As a result, repRNA acts as its own adjuvant, eliciting more robust immune responses after a single dose, relative to conventional mRNA which typically requires multiple, 1,000-fold higher doses (29).”

    From An <i>Alphavirus</i> -derived replicon RNA vaccine induces SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody and T cell responses in mice and nonhuman primates (2020) · cites this paper as [29]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says self-amplifying RNA provides additional immune stimuli, consistent with the adjuvant-like part of the claim. But the Results report equivalent protection at a 64-fold lower dose, not a 1,000-fold lower dose, and Figure 1 describes a prime-boost regimen for both RNA vaccines, not a single dose of self-amplifying RNA versus multiple doses of conventional mRNA. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The self-adjuvanting effect of saRNA triggers a broader immune response, which is considered to have potential to be effective with a single-dose inoculation.

    “This triggers a broader immune response, which was also considered to have potential to be effective with a single-dose inoculation.155,156”

    From COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Platforms and current developments (2022) · cites this paper as [156]

  • saRNA vaccines are inherently self-adjuvanting, as their replicase activity leads to dsRNA and replicon intermediates during transcription that mimic a viral infection.

    “saRNA vaccines are inherently self-adjuvanting, as their replicase activity leads to dsRNA and replicon intermediates during transcription mimic a viral infection.”

    From COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Platforms and current developments (2022) · cites this paper as [156]

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Authors
Vogel, A. B., Lambert, L., Kinnear, E., Busse, D., Erbar, S., Reuter, K. C., Wicke, L., Perkovic, M., Beissert, T., Haas, H., Reece, S. T., Sahin, U., & Tregoning, J. S.
Affiliations
  • BioNTech (Germany) (DE)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Translationale Onkologie an der Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Vogel, Annette B.
  • Tregoning, John S.
Venue
Molecular Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-02
Volume
26
Issue
2
Pages
446-455
ISSN
1525-0016 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2775712816
Cited by
501
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 51 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 72 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 81 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 13
FWCI
19.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • European Community’s European 7th Framework Program ADITEC (HEALTH-F4-2011-18 280873)
  • MRC CASE (MR/J006548/1)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Influenza Virus Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
self-amplifying RNA vaccine, mRNA vaccines, influenza vaccination, hemagglutinin, vaccine dose reduction, H1N1, H3N2, influenza B, vaccine protection
MeSH terms
Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Humans, Immunization, Immunization, Secondary, Influenza, Human, Influenza Vaccines, Influenza A virus, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Viral, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus, Mice, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype

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