Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42412727›Full record

ArticlePLoS pathogens2026

A rotavirus vaccine candidate attenuated by codon deoptimization protects neonatal mice against wild-type virus infection.

Zelin Chen, Tomohiro Kotaki, Daisuke Motooka, Shintaro Sato, Yusuke Sakai, Katsuhisa Hirai, Shohei Minami, Takahiro Kawagishi, Yuta Kanai, Takeshi Kobayashi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS pathogens, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Zelin ChenDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Tomohiro KotakiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Daisuke MotookaNGS Core Facility, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Shintaro SatoDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Yusuke SakaiDepartment of Infectious Disease Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security, Tokyo, Japan.
Katsuhisa HiraiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Shohei MinamiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Takahiro KawagishiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Yuta KanaiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Takeshi KobayashiDepartment of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-5532-207X

Funding

The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University (BIKEN)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rotavirus infection is a leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants and young children. Owing to the limited development of effective antiviral therapies, vaccination has become the primary and most efficient strategy to reduce rotavirus-associated morbidity and mortality. Compared with classical virus attenuation strategies, reverse genetics approaches such as codon deoptimization are safer, more time-saving, more cost-effective, and more controllable. The present study describes the development of an oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine candidate using codon deoptimization. Based on a simian rotavirus SA11 strain, eight gene segments, encoding the structural proteins VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP6, and the non-structural proteins NSP2, NSP3, NSP4, and NSP5, were subjected to codon deoptimization. Attenuated rotavirus by multi-segment codon deoptimization (MS8cd) exhibited markedly attenuated replication both in vitro and in vivo, attributable to reduced protein production independent of mRNA stability. Despite the attenuation, MS8cd elicited robust systemic and mucosal antibody responses which were sufficient to protect neonatal mice against challenge with wild-type rotavirus in a maternal immunization model. To alter the immunogenicity, MS8cd was manipulated to encapsidate outer capsid proteins of several prevalent human rotaviruses. These reassortants exhibited altered antigenic and immunogenic properties associated with the differing genotypes of the outer capsid proteins. In conclusion, this study describes the generation of promising rotavirus vaccine candidates attenuated by codon deoptimization. They are capable of eliciting genotype-specific and broad-spectrum protective immunity against circulating strains of rotavirus. This represents a rapid-response platform for the development of novel vaccines against emerging variants.

Indexed as

RotavirusRotavirus InfectionsRotavirus VaccinesAnimalsAnimals, NewbornAntibodies, ViralCodonFemaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CVaccines, AttenuatedAntibodies, ViralCodonRotavirus VaccinesVaccines, Attenuated

Identifiers

PMID42412727
PMCPMC13340783

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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.