A mRNA vaccine encoding for a 60-mer Nipah virus G glycoprotein nanoparticle elicits a robust neutralizing antibodies response against the Nipah virus.

The Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen causing encephalitis and acute respiratory illness in humans with very high fatality rates. Here we report a novel messenger RNA vaccine that directly encodes for a nanoparticle displaying 60 head domains of the Nipah virus G (NiV G) glycoprotein that acts as a highly effective antigen. A vaccine encoding for the NiV G nanoparticle elicits high antibody titers against NiV G and a robust neutralizing antibody response with a pseudotyped Nipah virus system. We ultimately find that the proposed mRNA NiV G nanoparticle (mRNA NiV G-NP) provides a flexible platform for the development of vaccines that will likely be of great value in combatting future Nipah virus outbreaks.