Safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant Staphylococcus aureus -toxoid and a recombinant Panton-Valentine leukocidin subunit, in healthy adults

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation study in healthy adults to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus candidate vaccine antigens, recombinant -toxoid (rAT) and a sub-unit of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (rLukS-PV). 176 subjects were enrolled and randomized within 1 of 11 treatment cohorts: monovalent rAT or rLukS-PV dosages of 10, 25, 50, and 100g; bivalent rAT:rLukS dosages of 10:10, 25:25, and 50:50g; and alum or saline placebo. All subjects were assessed at Days 0, 7, 14, 28, and 84. Subjects in the 50:50g bivalent cohort received a second injection on Day 84 and were assessed on Days 98 and 112. Incidence and severity of reactogenicity and adverse events (AEs) were compared. Geometric mean serum concentrations (GMC) and neutralizing activity of anti-rAT and anti-rLukS-PV IgG were assessed. Reactogenicity incidence was significantly higher in vaccine than placebo recipients (77% versus 55%, respectively; p = 0.006). However, 77% of reactogenicity events were mild and 19% were moderate in severity. The AE incidence and severity were similar between the cohorts. All monovalent and bivalent rAT dosages resulted in a significant increase in the anti-rAT IgG and anti- rLukS-PV GMCs between day 0 and 28 compared with placebo, and persisted through Day 84. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested a higher GMC and neutralizing antibody titers for the 50g monovalent or bivalent rAT and rLukS-PV dose as compared to the other doses. No booster effect was observed after administration of the second dose. We conclude that the rAT and rLukS-PV vaccine formulations were well-tolerated and had a favorable immunogenicity profile, producing antibody with neutralizing activity through day 84. There was no benefit observed with a booster dose of the vaccine.