Ebola vaccine induces T cell cross-reactivity against Bundibugyo virus in humans

A recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal has found that the VSV-EBOV (Ervebo) Ebola vaccine induces T-cell cross-reactivity against the Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in humans. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently experiencing the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, with over 6,000 confirmed cases and a 48% fatality rate.

This vaccine, initially developed to combat the related Ebola virus (EBOV), has shown partial cross-protection in non-human primates and has induced BDBV-reactive antibodies in humans. The research, led by Dr. Leonie Mayer and Professor Marylyn Addo from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Professor Christof Geldmacher and Dr. Rolanda Londt from the LMU University Hospital Munich, analyzed and mapped T-cell responses against EBOV, BDBV, and Sudan virus (SUDV) in VSV-EBOV-vaccinated individuals.

The study demonstrates that a single immunization with the available, licensed EBOV vaccine can induce T-cell cross-reactivity against BDBV and, to a lesser extent, against SUDV. While it is not known whether these T cells can contribute to improved clinical outcomes upon infection with BDBV, preclinical studies in non-human primates suggest that T-cell responses are required for vaccine-mediated protection.

The findings provide the first evidence that VSV-EBOV vaccination against ebolavirus induces BDBV-cross-reactive T-cell responses, and while the study has limitations due to its small sample size, it supports the systematic evaluation of the EBOV vaccine within clinical trials during the current BDBV outbreak.

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