TY - JOUR T1 - Intranasal mRNA-LNP vaccination protects hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 infection JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2023.01.11.523616 SP - 2023.01.11.523616 AU - Gabriela Baldeon Vaca AU - Michelle Meyer AU - Ana Cadete AU - Chiaowen Joyce Hsiao AU - Anne Golding AU - Albert Jeon AU - Eric Jacquinet AU - Emily Azcue AU - Chenxia Monica Guan AU - Xavier Sanchez-Felix AU - Colette A. Pietzsch AU - Chad E. Mire AU - Matthew A. Hyde AU - Margaret E. Comeaux AU - Julie M. Williams AU - Jean C. Sung AU - Andrea Carfi AU - Darin K. Edwards AU - Alexander Bukreyev AU - Kapil Bahl Y1 - 2023/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2023/01/12/2023.01.11.523616.abstract N2 - Intranasal vaccination represents a promising approach for preventing disease caused by respiratory pathogens by eliciting a mucosal immune response in the respiratory tract that may act as an early barrier to infection and transmission. This study investigated immunogenicity and protective efficacy of intranasally administered messenger RNA (mRNA)–lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulated vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Syrian golden hamsters. Intranasal mRNA-LNP vaccination systemically induced spike-specific binding (IgG and IgA) and neutralizing antibodies with similar robustness to intramuscular controls. Additionally, intranasal vaccination decreased viral loads in the respiratory tract, reduced lung pathology, and prevented weight loss after SARS-CoV-2 challenge. This is the first study to demonstrate successful immunogenicity and protection against respiratory viral infection by an intranasally administered mRNA-LNP vaccine.Competing Interest StatementGBV, AC, CJH, AG, AJ, EJ, EA, CMG, XSF, JS, AC, DE, and KB are or were employees of Moderna, Inc., and hold stock/stock options from the company. MM, CAP, CEM, MAH, MEC, JMW, and AB have none to declare. ER -