Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40573884›Full record

ArticleVaccines2025

Safety and Immunogenicity of a Modified Self-Amplifying Ribonucleic Acid (saRNA) Vaccine Encoding SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein in SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative and Seropositive Ugandan Individuals.

Jonathan Kitonsa, Jennifer Serwanga, Hannah M Cheeseman, Andrew Abaasa, Jane Frances Lunkuse, Eugene Ruzagira, Laban Kato, Florence Nambaziira, Gerald Kevin Oluka, Ben Gombe and 7 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04934111 (A Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of LNP-nCOV saRNA-02, a Self-amplifying Ribonucleic Acid), which is not on this map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04934111 phase1unknown statusnot on this map

A Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of LNP-nCOV saRNA-02, a Self-amplifying Ribonucleic Acid (saRNA) Vaccine, in SARS-CoV-2 Seronegative and Seropositive Uganda Population

TypeinterventionalSponsorMRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research UnitRan2021 to 2022Enrolled42ConditionsCOVID-19ArmsLNP-nCOV saRNA-02 Vaccine
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Jonathan KitonsaMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-2467-4037
Jennifer SerwangaMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Hannah M CheesemanDepartment of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9044-1341
Andrew AbaasaMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Jane Frances LunkuseMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Eugene RuzagiraMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-7291-1693
Laban KatoMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Florence NambaziiraMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Gerald Kevin OlukaMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Ben GombeMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Sembera JacksonMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.
Joseph Katende SsebwanaMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-6540-5522
Leon R McFarlaneDepartment of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Sarah JosephDepartment of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Benjamin F PierceDepartment of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0834-5201
Robin J ShattockDepartment of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Pontiano KaleebuMedical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda.

Funding

Department of Health and Social Care using UK Aid funding and is managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC, grant number: EP/R013764/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for innovative vaccine platforms that elicit durable immunity. Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines offer rapid production and dose-sparing advantages over traditional mRNA platforms. In Uganda's first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial (NCT04934111), we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a saRNA vaccine encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein in seronegative and seropositive adults.

methodsThis non-randomised phase 1 trial (December 2021-April 2022) enrolled 42 healthy adults (18-45 years), including 12 seronegative and 30 seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Participants received two 5 μg doses of saRNA vaccine, four weeks apart. Reactogenicity was assessed using diary cards for seven days post-vaccination, and adverse events were monitored throughout the 24-week study. Binding and neutralising antibody levels were quantified using ELISA and pseudovirus neutralisation assays.

findingsThe vaccine was well tolerated, with only mild-to-moderate adverse events, including fatigue, headache, and chills. No serious vaccine-related events occurred. Among seronegative participants, 91.6% seroconverted after two doses (median S-IgG: 3695 ng/mL,

conclusionThe saRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was safe and immunogenic, inducing robust spike glycoprotein-specific antibody responses, particularly in seronegative participants. This trial demonstrates the potential of saRNA vaccines for broader use.

Indexed as

COVID-19 vaccination in Africaneutralising antibody responsesphase 1 clinical trialSARS-CoV-2 immunogenicityself-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccineseronegative vs. seropositive immune responsesspike-specific IgG antibodiesvaccine safety and reactogenicity

Identifiers

PMID40573884
PMCPMC12197785

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.