Optimizing mouse models for mRNA vaccines: addressing dose translation challenges

Z Zi Wei Chang Y Yong Jie Tan Y Yiyu Liao Y Yun Shan Goh S Syed Ridwan Kabir Y Yuqian Wang P Pei Xiang Hor C Chiew Yee Loh Y Yuling Huang B Bei Wang (State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research and Shuguang Hospital) S Siti Nazihah Mohd Salleh E Eve Zi Xian Ngoh A Angeline Rouers A Anthony Torres-Ruesta N Nathan Wong A Alice Soh Meoy Ong A Adeline Chiew Yen Chua S Samantha Nguee V Vanessa Neo I Isaac Kai Jie Kam A Ajayanandan Yadunandan S Sooriya Kannan Selvam J Jarvis Goh N Ng Kah Ying S Sim Xin Yi W Wong Wei Lun A Anna Xinyi Loo L Liang Hui Loo J Jocelyn Jin Yu Z Zheng Kuang Soh Y Yi Qing Chin J Jonathan Jordon Lim J Juwinda Ongko E Eshele Anak Libau C Celine Theo M Mohammed Ridzwan Bin Abdullah S Shiau Hui Diong H He Ping Yeo S Surinder Pada L Louisa Jin Sun D Desmond Luan Seng Ong J Jyoti Somani E Eng Sing Lee C Cheng-I Wang D David C. Lye B Barnaby E. Young M Matthew Zirui Tay L Lisa F. P. Ng K Keisuke Ejima (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University) L Laurent Renia

Abstract

Abstract The development of mRNA vaccines has significantly advanced global health during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, translating effective vaccine doses from preclinical animal models to human clinical use remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated antibody responses and repertoire diversity across different BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine doses in mice, while comparing the results with human data through mathematical modeling. We observed that 1 μg BNT162b2 dose regimen induced a persistent antibody response and broad antibody repertoire for up to 16 weeks in mice. Conversely, 0.05 μg BNT162b2 dose regimen resulted in waning antibody responses and narrowed antibody repertoires over the same period, resembling responses observed in humans vaccinated with 30 μg BNT162b2 dose regimen. An empirical dose translation approach revealed a discrepancy in dose relevance between the 1 μg commonly used in the in vivo mice model and the 30 μg used for vaccination in human. Therefore, it is crucial to re-evaluate the appropriate mRNA vaccine dose for in vivo mice models to accurately reflect human responses.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published May 05, 2026
ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Scientific Reports

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2045-2322 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (50)

Z

Zi Wei Chang

Y

Yong Jie Tan

Y

Yiyu Liao

Y

Yun Shan Goh

S

Syed Ridwan Kabir

Y

Yuqian Wang

P

Pei Xiang Hor

C

Chiew Yee Loh

Y

Yuling Huang

B

Bei Wang

State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research and Shuguang Hospital

S

Siti Nazihah Mohd Salleh

E

Eve Zi Xian Ngoh

A

Angeline Rouers

A

Anthony Torres-Ruesta

N

Nathan Wong

A

Alice Soh Meoy Ong

A

Adeline Chiew Yen Chua

S

Samantha Nguee

V

Vanessa Neo

I

Isaac Kai Jie Kam

A

Ajayanandan Yadunandan

S

Sooriya Kannan Selvam

J

Jarvis Goh

N

Ng Kah Ying

S

Sim Xin Yi

W

Wong Wei Lun

A

Anna Xinyi Loo

L

Liang Hui Loo

J

Jocelyn Jin Yu

Z

Zheng Kuang Soh

Y

Yi Qing Chin

J

Jonathan Jordon Lim

J

Juwinda Ongko

E

Eshele Anak Libau

C

Celine Theo

M

Mohammed Ridzwan Bin Abdullah

S

Shiau Hui Diong

H

He Ping Yeo

S

Surinder Pada

L

Louisa Jin Sun

D

Desmond Luan Seng Ong

J

Jyoti Somani

E

Eng Sing Lee

C

Cheng-I Wang

D

David C. Lye

B

Barnaby E. Young

M

Matthew Zirui Tay

L

Lisa F. P. Ng

K

Keisuke Ejima

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

L

Laurent Renia