2. Academic Validation
  3. mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines provide protection against lethal Nipah virus infection

mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines provide protection against lethal Nipah virus infection

  • NPJ Vaccines. 2025 Dec 19. doi: 10.1038/s41541-025-01336-1.
Tong Sun # 1,  Yanfeng Yao # 2 3,  Chuanwen Tian 1 4,  Yun Peng 3,  Yingnan Liu 4,  Ge Gao 3,  Zhisheng Li 4,  Hang Liu 3,  Jingyi Han 4,  Miaoyu Chen 3,  Shuqi Xiao 3,  Zhiming Yuan 2 3 5,  Chao Shan 6 7 8,  Jingyi Liu 9,  Hongjun Chen 10 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
  • 3 Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
  • 4 State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
  • 5 University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China. [email protected].
  • 8 University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. [email protected].
  • 9 Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • 10 Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • 11 State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 41419782 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01336-1
Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe encephalitis and respiratory disease in humans and multiple mammalian species. However, no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are currently available against NiV Infection. In this study, we developed three mRNA vaccine candidates using a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform: mRNA-F-LNP, comprising mRNA encoding the fusion protein (F); mRNA-G-LNP, containing mRNA encoding the attachment glycoprotein (G); and mRNA-GF-LNP, in which mRNAs encoding both F and G proteins were co-encapsulated at a 1:1 molar ratio. All three mRNA-LNPs induced robust and sustained immune responses in both mice and Syrian hamsters. Sera from immunized Syrian hamster showed high levels of cross-neutralizing antibodies against both NiV-Malaysia (NiV-M) and NiV-Bangladesh (NiV-B) strains. Notably, all three mRNA-LNPs conferred complete protection against a lethal challenge with NiV-M in Syrian hamsters. These findings demonstrate that these mRNA-based vaccines are highly immunogenic and efficacious, highlighting their potential as promising candidates for NiV vaccine development.

Figures
Products