90-Second Read: Hantavirus One-Shot mRNA Vaccine Fully Protects in Syrian Hamster Model

A single-dose mRNA vaccine provided complete protection against the deadly Andes Hantavirus infection in the Syrian hamster model. Last month, the Andes virus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship departing from Argentina brought a transmission context for Hantavirus, that was previously unprecedented, to the forefront. Now, a new report shares the finding that the vaccine provided full protection against the Andes Hantavirus after a single dose. The Andes virus is the only member of the Hantavirus family that is capable of efficient person-to-person spread through close contact with respiratory secretions.

While at sea, the outbreak spread among passengers and crew, infecting 13 people and killing three. There are currently no vaccines or preventive treatments approved for the virus; this travel-related outbreak brought the need for vaccine development to the forefront. When testing the vaccines in an animal model that mimics human disease, the scientists found that a single shot provided 100% protection against a lethal dose of the virus. The cruise passengers have since returned to their home countries, 23 in total.

Because a person can carry the virus for weeks before showing any symptoms, health agencies are facing a complex challenge of identifying everyone who was exposed. Recognizing that a fast-moving international outbreak doesn't allow time for patients to wait weeks between shots, the team retested the vaccines to determine whether a single dose would be effective. Alexander Bukreyev, PhD, head of the Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development at UTMB, said that the group is working to fast-track these single-dose vaccines into human clinical trials. When we looked at the tissues from the vaccinated animals a month after infection, the virus was entirely gone.

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