mRNA booster vaccination protects aged mice against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Etsuro Nanishi, Marisa E. McGrath, Timothy R. O’Meara, Soumik Barman, Jingyou Yu, Huahua Wan, Carly Dillen, Manisha Menon, Hyuk‐Soo Seo, Kijun Song, Andrew Z. Xu, Luke Sebastian, Byron Brook, Anna-Nicole Bosco, Francesco Borriello, Robert K. Ernst, Dan H. Barouch, Sirano Dhe‐Paganon, Ofer Levy, Matthew B. Frieman, David J. Dowling
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant evades vaccine-induced immunity. While a booster dose of ancestral mRNA vaccines effectively elicits neutralizing antibodies against variants, its efficacy against Omicron in older adults, who are at the greatest risk of severe disease, is not fully elucidated. Here, we evaluate multiple longitudinal immunization regimens of mRNA BNT162b2 to assess the effects of a booster dose provided >8 months after the primary immunization series across the murine lifespan, including in aged 21-month-old mice. Boosting dramatically enhances humoral and cell-mediated responses with evidence of Omicron cross-recognition. Furthermore, while younger mice are protected without a booster dose, boosting provides sterilizing immunity against Omicron-induced lung infection in aged 21-month-old mice. Correlational analyses reveal that neutralizing activity against Omicron is strongly associated with protection. Overall, our findings indicate age-dependent vaccine efficacy and demonstrate the potential benefit of mRNA booster immunization to protect vulnerable older populations against SARS-CoV-2 variants.