Efficacy of modified-vaccinia Ankara vaccine as pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis against monkeypox sexual transmission in non-human primate model

Cécile Herate (), Audrey Ferrier-Rembert, Francis Relouzat, Anne-Sophie Gallouët, Quentin Pascal, Hélène Letscher, Mariangela Cavarelli, Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet, Wesley Gros, Benoit Delache, Sébastien Langlois, Hawa Timera, Fanny Jarjaval, Laetitia Bossevot, Camille Ludot, Catherine Brua, Maxence Lechemia, Olivier Ferraris, Nathalie Silvestre, Roger Grand and Jean-Nicolas Tournier
Additional contact information
Cécile Herate: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Audrey Ferrier-Rembert: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)
Francis Relouzat: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Anne-Sophie Gallouët: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Quentin Pascal: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Hélène Letscher: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Mariangela Cavarelli: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Wesley Gros: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Benoit Delache: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Sébastien Langlois: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Hawa Timera: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)
Fanny Jarjaval: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)
Laetitia Bossevot: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Camille Ludot: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Catherine Brua: Transgene SA Boulevard Gonthier D’Andernach
Maxence Lechemia: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)
Olivier Ferraris: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)
Nathalie Silvestre: Transgene SA Boulevard Gonthier D’Andernach
Roger Grand: Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Viral Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT)
Jean-Nicolas Tournier: Institut de recherche biomédicale des Armées (IRBA)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract The monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak of 2022 caused a human disease with unusual epidemiological and clinical features, notably an increase in human-to-human transmission through sexual contact, predominantly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This evolution underscores the need to reassess prevention and control strategies in the context of a sexually transmitted disease. Here, we show that rectal challenge of male cynomolgus macaques with a 2022 clade IIb MPXV isolate mimics sexual transmission, leading to rectal infection, with systemic and male genital tract dissemination and seminal fluid shedding. Vaccination with modified-vaccinia Ankara (MVA) protected the macaques from subsequent rectal MPXV challenge. However, MVA failed to prevent the disease when administered four days post-exposure to MPXV. These findings have a critical impact on outbreak management and highlight the importance of reevaluating MVA post-exposure prophylaxis protocols.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62681-2

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