Two-year persistence of MERS-CoV-specific antibody and T cell responses after MVA-MERS-S vaccination in healthy adults
MVA-MERS-S, a vaccine candidate against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), was recently evaluated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 1b clinical trial to assess its safety, immunogenicity, and optimal dosing in healthy adults in Hamburg and Rotterdam. A three-dose regimen was safe and elicited robust spike-specific antibody responses. We extended this trial to assess the two-year durability of MERS-CoV-specific antibody and T cell responses in 48 study participants of the Hamburg cohort. Our findings show that immune responses remain detectable for at least 24 months after the third vaccination. Antibodies persisted at levels comparable to the peak response observed after the second vaccination and were able to cross-neutralize MERS-CoV spike mutants. Although the immune correlates of protection against MERS remain unknown, the observed durability of humoral and cellular immune responses supports the potential of MVA-MERS-S as a promising MERS vaccine candidate and highlights the importance of a booster dose in sustaining long-term immunity.
Authors
- Anna Z. Mykytyn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7188-6871)
- C. Drosten
- Gesche K. Gerresheim
- Leonie M. Weskamm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1175-7354)
- Merel R Te Marvelde
- Anahita Fathi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9351-9471)
- Leonie Mayer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7102-4358)
- Matthijs P. Raadsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3774-8165)
- Ilka Grewe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9714-0725)
- Christine Dahlke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2056-9195)
- Svenja Hardtke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2913-9001)
- Claudia Schlesner
- Jordi Rodon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1032-9091)
- Marc Lütgehetmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9468-7944)
- Bart L. Haagmans
- Marylyn M. Addo
- Stephan Becker
- Hanna-Marie Weichel
Institutions
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-01-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68248-5
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 32.78
Funders
- Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft