Enhanced production yields of rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using Fibra-Cel macrocarriers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high global demand for vaccines to safeguard public health. To that end, our institute has developed a recombinant viral vector vaccine utilizing a modified vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) construct, wherein the G protein of VSV is replaced with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (rVSV-ΔG-spike). Previous studies have demonstrated the production of a VSV-based vaccine in Vero cells adsorbed on Cytodex 1 microcarriers or in suspension.

In-Line Monitoring of Downstream Purification Processes for VSV Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Using a Novel Technique.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) increases the need for a rapid development of efficient vaccines. Among other vaccines in clinical trials, a recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine was developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) and is being evaluated. The development of an efficient downstream purification process (DSP) enables the vaccine to be advanced to clinical trials.

Development of an immunofluorescence assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerged as the cause of a global crisis in 2019. Currently, the main method for identification of SARS-CoV-2 is a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay designed to detect viral RNA in oropharyngeal (OP) or nasopharyngeal (NP) samples. While the PCR assay is considered highly specific and sensitive, this method cannot determine the infectivity of the sample, which may assist in evaluation of virus transmissibility from patients and breaking transmission chains.

Evaluation of a downstream process for the recovery and concentration of a Cell-Culture-Derived rVSV-Spike COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

rVSV-Spike (rVSV-S) is a recombinant viral vaccine candidate under development to control the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently in phase II clinical trials. rVSV-S induces neutralizing antibodies and protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models. Bringing rVSV-S to clinical trials required the development of a scalable downstream process for the production of rVSV-S that can meet regulatory guidelines.

Mutation Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequences Originating from Eight Israeli Patient Isolates.

We report the genome sequences and the identification of genetic variations in eight clinical samples of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Samples were collected from nasopharyngeal swabs of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals from five care homes for elderly and infirm persons in Israel. The sequences obtained are valuable, as they carry a newly reported nonsynonymous substitution located within the nucleoprotein open reading frame.