Insect-specific Yada Yada virus chimeric vaccines protect against chikungunya and Ross River virus-induced arthritis

Arthritogenic alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Ross River virus (RRV) are mosquito-borne viruses that can cause debilitating polyarthritis/polyarthralgia in humans. Although two CHIKV vaccines have been licensed, there are no licensed vaccines for RRV. Herein we generate a host-restricted, insect-specific alphavirus, Yada Yada virus (YYV), chimeric vaccine for CHIKV (YYV-CHIKV Mauritius ) and for RRV (YYV-RRV TT ). YYV-CHIKV Mauritius and YYV-RRV TT was able to replicate in C6/36 mosquito cells to similar titres as wild-type CHIKV and RRV. YYV-CHIKV Mauritius was also neutralised by CHIKV monoclonal antibodies to the same titres as wild-type CHIKV, indicating its potential as a diagnostic antigen to detect neutralising CHIKV antibodies in human or animal sera. YYV-CHIKV Mauritius further demonstrated protection against CHIKV infection and disease in a wild-type mouse model. Two doses of YYV-CHIKV Mauritius showed anti-CHIKV ELISA and neutralising antibody responses, with protection against foot swelling, viraemia and viral feet tissue titres. Protection against CHIKV histopathology including myositis, tendonitis, arthritis, subcutaneous oedema and haemorrhage was also observed. YYV-RRV TT also demonstrated protection against RRV infection and disease in a wild-type mouse model, with two vaccine doses inducing anti-RRV ELISA and neutralising antibody responses. Protection against foot swelling, viraemia and viral feet tissue titres and RRV histopathology including myositis, tendonitis, arthritis and subcutaneous oedema was also observed. Cross-protection was also evaluated between YYV-CHIKV Mauritius and RRV. Although cross-reactive total IgG were observed for YYV-CHIKV Mauritius vaccinated mice, this offered no cross-neutralising antibodies and no protection against RRV infection and disease. Overall, our findings show that YYV-CHIKV Mauritius and YYV-RRV TT are safe and efficacious vaccines against CHIKV and RRV, respectively, but do not offer cross-protection.