Multivalent mRNA vaccine platform with compatible antigens conferred broad-spectrum protection against orthoebolaviruses’ exposure

J Jiachen Zhang (Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) X Xinghai Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Y Yanfeng Yao (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) J Junhui Zhou (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) D Da Chen (Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) Y Yanqiong Shen (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) Q Qizan Gong (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) Z Zhihao Li Z Zunhao Zhou (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) E Entao Li (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) F Fangxu Li (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Z Zekai Cheng (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) Y Yang Liu W Weiqi Wang (Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China) H Hang Liu (Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay) M Miaoyu Chen (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) H Huajun Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) C Chao Wang Y Yucai Wang (State Key Laboratory of Immune Response and Immunotherapy, Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine) S Sandra Chiu (Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

Several orthoebolaviruses have been established, including Orthoebolavirus zairense [for Ebola virus (EBOV)], Orthoebolavirus sudanense [for Sudan virus (SUDV)], and Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense [for Bundibugyo virus (BDBV)]. Orthoebolaviruses are highly virulent pathogens that cause severe disease in humans. However, most existing vaccines primarily target EBOV, and fail to provide robust cross-protection against other lethal orthoebolaviruses. The development of a broad-spectrum vaccine has the potential to efficiently mitigate outbreaks caused by multiple orthoebolaviruses. In this study, we developed and evaluated a broad-spectrum mRNA vaccine, designated [GPs+NP]@LNP, formulated with a single lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform to encapsulate a mixed mRNA payload encoding the glycoproteins (GPs) of EBOV, BDBV, and SUDV, along with the nucleoprotein (NP) of EBOV. This rational antigenic combination was designed to engage both humoral and cellular arms of the immune system. Consistent with this design, the compatibility of humoral immunity-driving GPs and cellular immune-dominating NPs supports complementary immune responses, which together are associated with broad and durable protection against EBOV, BDBV, and SUDV in animal models. Antigenic coordination within a single LNP formulation may therefore represent an effective strategy to optimize vaccine immunogenicity, protective effect, durability, and safety. Collectively, these findings highlight [GPs+NP]@LNP as a promising approach for the development of next-generation vaccines targeting multiple pathogenic orthoebolaviruses.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 21
Published May 26, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (20)

J

Jiachen Zhang

Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

X

Xinghai Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Y

Yanfeng Yao

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

J

Junhui Zhou

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

D

Da Chen

Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

Y

Yanqiong Shen

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

Q

Qizan Gong

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

Z

Zhihao Li

Z

Zunhao Zhou

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

E

Entao Li

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

F

Fangxu Li

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Z

Zekai Cheng

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

Y

Yang Liu

W

Weiqi Wang

Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China

H

Hang Liu

Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay

M

Miaoyu Chen

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

H

Huajun Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

C

Chao Wang

Y

Yucai Wang

State Key Laboratory of Immune Response and Immunotherapy, Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

S

Sandra Chiu

Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China