Novel EG95-based mRNA vaccines induce long-term protective immunity against echinococcosis.

Novel EG95-based mRNA-LNP vaccines induce durable immune responses and superior protection against Echinococcus granulosus in mice and lambs, with antibodies lasting over 12 months.

• Why it matters: Cystic echinococcosis remains a major global health and veterinary challenge, and existing vaccines have limited effectiveness due to poor immunogenicity and complex production, highlighting the need for improved strategies.
• What they did: Three mRNA-LNP vaccine candidates, including EG95, IL-4-EG95, and EG95-EC95 formulations, were designed, encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles, and tested for expression and immune response in vitro and in vivo, with comparisons to a commercial subunit vaccine.
• The result: The vaccines elicited stronger, longer-lasting humoral and cellular immunity than the commercial vaccine, with the IL-4-EG95 formulation providing especially high protection by inhibiting parasite survival and cyst growth, demonstrating mRNA vaccines' potential for CE control.