The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 imposes an urgent need for rapid development of an efficient and cost-effective vaccine, suitable for mass immunization. Here, we show the development of a replication competent recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine, in which the glycoprotein of VSV is replaced by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In-vitro characterization of this vaccine indicates the expression and presentation of the spike protein on the viral membrane with antigenic similarity to SARS-CoV-2. A golden Syrian hamster in-vivo model for COVID-19 is implemented. We show that a single-dose vaccination results in a rapid and potent induction of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, vaccination protects hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, as demonstrated by the abrogation of body weight loss, and  alleviation of the extensive tissue damage and viral loads in lungs and nasal turbinates. Taken together, we suggest the recombinant VSV-∆G-spike as a safe, efficacious and protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in December 2019 in China resulted in over 7.8 million infections and over 430,000 deaths worldwide, imposing an urgent need for rapid development of an efficient and cost-effective vaccine, suitable for mass immunization. Here, we generated a replication competent recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine, in which the glycoprotein of VSV was replaced by the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2. In vitro characterization of the recombinant VSV-∆ G-spike indicated expression and presentation of the spike protein on the viral membrane with antigenic similarity to SARS-CoV-2. A golden Syrian hamster in vivo model for COVID-19 was implemented. We show that vaccination of hamsters with recombinant VSV-∆G-spike results in rapid and potent induction of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, single-dose vaccination was able to protect hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, as demonstrated by the abrogation of body weight loss of the immunized hamsters compared to unvaccinated hamsters. Furthermore, whereas lungs of infected hamsters displayed extensive tissue damage and high viral titers, immunized hamsters' lungs showed only minor lung pathology, and no viral load. Taken together, we suggest recombinant VSV-∆G-spike as a safe, efficacious and protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The continued spread of SARS-CoV-2 increases the probability of influenza/SARS-CoV-2 coinfection, which may result in severe disease. In this study, we examine the disease outcome of influenza A virus (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in K18-hACE2 mice. Our data indicate enhance susceptibility of IAV-infected mice to developing severe disease upon coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 two days later. In contrast to nonfatal influenza and lower mortality rates due to SARS-CoV-2 alone, this coinfection results in severe morbidity and nearly complete mortality. Coinfection is associated with elevated influenza viral loads in respiratory organs. Remarkably, prior immunity to influenza, but not to SARS-CoV-2, prevents severe disease and mortality. This protection is antibody-dependent. These data experimentally support the necessity of seasonal influenza vaccination for reducing the risk of severe influenza/COVID-19 comorbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes significant morbidity, mainly from pulmonary involvement, extrapulmonary symptoms are also major components of the disease. Kidney disease, usually presenting as acute kidney injury (AKI), is particularly severe among patients with COVID-19. It is unknown, however, whether such injury results from direct kidney infection with COVID-19's causative virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or from indirect mechanisms. Methods Using ex vivo cell models, we sought to analyze SARS-Cov2 interactions with kidney tubular cells and assess direct tubular injury. These models comprised primary human kidney epithelial cells (derived from nephrectomies and grown as proliferating monolayers) and more quiescent three-dimensional kidney spheroids. Results We demonstrated that viral entry molecules and high baseline levels of type 1 interferon-related molecules were present in monolayers and kidney spheroids. Although both models support viral infection and replication, they did not exhibit a cytopathic effect and cell death, outcomes that were strongly present in SARS-CoV-2-infected controls (Vero E6 cultures). A comparison of monolayer and spheroid cultures demonstrated higher infectivity and replication of SARS-Cov-2 in actively proliferating monolayers, although the spheroid cultures exhibited higher levels of ACE2. Monolayers exhibited elevation of some tubular injury molecules—including molecules related to fibrosis (COL1A1 and STAT6) and dedifferentiation (SNAI2)—as well as a loss of cell identity, evident by reduction in megalin (LRP2). The three-dimensional spheroids were less prone to such injury. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 can infect kidney cells without a cytopathic effect. AKI-induced cellular proliferation may potentially intensify infectivity and tubular damage by SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that early intervention in AKI is warranted to help minimize kidney infection.

Amiodarone is a commonly used antiarrhythmic drug and can cause liver steatosis. We investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response in the pathogenesis of amiodarone-induced steatosis. Amiodarone-induced liver injury was obtained by 1 intraperitoneal injection to wild-type (WT) or C/EBP homologous protein knock-out mice (Ddit3-/-). Amiodarone directly reduced intracellular ATP and Ca2+ in hepatocytes invitro, inducing ER stress and lipid accumulation. In vivo, amiodarone-driven liver damage and lipid accumulation was accompanied by activation of ER stress/unfolded protein response, as demonstrated by up-regulation of genes encoding key ER stress mediators and by phosphorylation of eIF2α. In contrast to WT mice, Ddit3-/- mice were protected from amiodarone-induced ER stress and lipid accumulation. Importantly, amiodarone-induced lipid accumulation was not mediated by de novo hepatic lipogenesis, increased adipose tissue lipolysis or increased hepatic uptake of triglycerides or free fatty acids. Rather, amiodarone strongly increased hepatic mRNA expression of lipid droplet proteins, particularly Cidea and Cidec, in WT, but less so in Ddit3-/- mice, suggesting a link between ER stress and increased triglyceride storage. Moreover, while insulin attenuated amiodarone-induced phosphorylation of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) in WT, it did not affect pHSL in Ddit3-/-, indicating increased lipolysis and therefore reduced lipid accumulation in these mice. Finally, ER stress attenuation using 2 different pharmacological chaperones reduced lipid accumulation, accompanied by reduced mRNA expression of Cidec. In conclusion, amiodarone-induced ER stress drives liver steatosis and may be considered for therapeutic targeting.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a major threat to global health. Vaccines are ideal solutions to prevent infection, but treatments are also needed for those who have contracted the virus to limit negative outcomes, when vaccines are not applicable. Viruses must cross host cell membranes during their lifecycle, creating a dependency on processes involving membrane dynamics. Thus, in this study we examined whether the synthetic machinery for glycosphingolipids, biologically active components of cell membranes, can serve as a therapeutic target to combat SARS-CoV-2. We examined the antiviral effect of two specific inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS); (i) Genz-123346, an analogue of the FDA-approved drug Cerdelga®, and (ii) GENZ-667161, an analogue of venglustat which is currently under phase III clinical trials. We found that both GCS inhibitors inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, these inhibitors also disrupt replication of influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). Our data imply that synthesis of glycosphingolipids is necessary to support viral life cycles, and suggest that GCS inhibitors should be further explored as antiviral therapies.

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Understanding pathways that might impact coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations and disease outcomes is necessary for better disease management and for therapeutic development. Here, we analyzed alterations in sphingolipid (SL) levels upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection induced elevation of SL levels in both cells and sera of infected mice. A significant increase in glycosphingolipid levels was induced early post SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was essential for viral replication. This elevation could be reversed by treatment with glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors. Levels of sphinganine, sphingosine, GA1, and GM3 were significantly increased in both cells and the murine model upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. The potential involvement of SLs in COVID-19 pathology is discussed.