1
|
Wang G, Verma AK, Shi J, Guan X, Meyerholz DK, Bu F, Wen W, Liu B, Li F, Perlman S, Du L. Universal subunit vaccine protects against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:133. [PMID: 39054338 PMCID: PMC11272943 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00922-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Although Omicron RBD of SARS-CoV-2 accumulates many mutations, the backbone region (truncated RBD) of spike protein is highly conserved. Here, we designed several subunit vaccines by keeping the conserved spike backbone region of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 subvariant (S-6P-no-RBD), or inserting the RBD of Delta variant (S-6P-Delta-RBD), Omicron (BA.5) variant (S-6P-BA5-RBD), or ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (S-6P-WT-RBD) to the above backbone construct, and evaluated their ability to induce immune responses and cross-protective efficacy against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV. Among the four subunit vaccines, S-6P-Delta-RBD protein elicited broad and potent neutralizing antibodies against all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants, the BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.75, BA.4.6, and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, and the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2. This vaccine prevented infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, and completely protected immunized mice against lethal challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and SARS-CoV. Sera from S-6P-Delta-RBD-immunized mice protected naive mice against challenge with the Delta variant, with significantly reduced viral titers and without pathological effects. Protection correlated positively with the serum neutralizing antibody titer. Overall, the designed vaccine has potential for development as a universal COVID-19 vaccine and/or a pan-sarbecovirus subunit vaccine that will prevent current and future outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-related CoVs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abhishek K Verma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Juan Shi
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Guan
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Fan Bu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Coronavirus Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Wei Wen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Coronavirus Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA.
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Center for Coronavirus Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Lanying Du
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li D, Sun C, Zhuang P, Mei X. Revolutionizing SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant detection: Towards faster and more reliable methods. Talanta 2024; 266:124937. [PMID: 37481886 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has inflicted significant damage during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This new variant's significant sequence changes and mutations in both proteins and RNA have rendered many existing rapid detection methods ineffective in identifying it accurately. As the world races to control the spread of the virus, researchers are urgently exploring new diagnostic strategies to specifically detect Omicron variants with high accuracy and sensitivity. In response to this challenge, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of the latest reported rapid detection techniques. These techniques include strategies for the simultaneous detection of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and methods for selectively distinguishing Omicron variants. By categorizing these diagnostic techniques based on their targets, which encompass protein antigens and nucleic acids, we aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of the utilization of various recognition elements in identifying these targets. We also highlight the advantages and limitations of each approach. Our work is crucial in providing a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in detecting Omicron variants and emerging variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, China.
| | - Cai Sun
- AECC Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine Co., Ltd., Shenyang, China
| | - Pengfei Zhuang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, China
| | - Xifan Mei
- Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Engineering of Liaoning Province, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Effective vaccination strategy using SARS-CoV-2 spike cocktail against Omicron and other variants of concern. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:169. [PMID: 36535987 PMCID: PMC9762654 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00580-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant harbors more than 30 mutations in its spike (S) protein. Circulating Omicron subvariants, particularly BA5 and other variants of concern (VOCs), show increased resistance to COVID-19 vaccines that target the original S protein, calling for an urgent need for effective vaccines to prevent multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Here, we evaluated the neutralizing activity and protection conferred by a BA1-S subunit vaccine when combined with or used as booster doses after, administration of wild-type S protein (WT-S). A WT-S/BA1-S cocktail, or WT-S prime and BA1-S boost, induced significantly higher neutralizing antibodies against pseudotyped Omicron BA1, BA2, BA2.12.1, and BA5 subvariants, and similar or higher neutralizing antibodies against the original SARS-CoV-2, than the WT-S protein alone. The WT-S/BA1-S cocktail also elicited higher or significantly higher neutralizing antibodies than the WT-S-prime-BA1-S boost, WT-S alone, or BA1-S alone against pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta VOCs, and SARS-CoV, a closely related beta-coronavirus using the same receptor as SARS-CoV-2 for viral entry. By contrast, WT-S or BA1-S alone failed to induce potent neutralizing antibodies against all these viruses. Similar to the WT-S-prime-BA1-S boost, the WT-S/BA1-S cocktail completely protected mice against the lethal challenge of a Delta variant with negligible weight loss. Thus, we have identified an effective vaccination strategy that elicits potent, broadly, and durable neutralizing antibodies against circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, other VOCs, original SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV. These results will provide useful guidance for developing efficacious vaccines that inhibit current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
|
4
|
A Glycosylated RBD Protein Induces Enhanced Neutralizing Antibodies against Omicron and Other Variants with Improved Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Virol 2022; 96:e0011822. [PMID: 35972290 PMCID: PMC9472618 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00118-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has mutated frequently since its first emergence in 2019. Numerous variants, including the currently emerging Omicron variant, have demonstrated high transmissibility or increased disease severity, posing serious threats to global public health. This study describes the identification of an immunodominant non-neutralizing epitope on SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). A subunit vaccine against this mutant RBD, constructed by masking this epitope with a glycan probe, did not significantly affect RBD’s receptor-binding affinity or antibody-binding affinity, or its ability to induce antibody production. However, this vaccine enhanced the neutralizing activity of this RBD and its protective efficacy in immunized mice. Specifically, this vaccine elicited significantly higher-titer neutralizing antibodies than the prototypic RBD protein against Alpha (B.1.1.7 lineage), Beta (B.1.351 lineage), Gamma (P.1 lineage), and Epsilon (B.1.427 or B.1.429 lineage) variant pseudoviruses containing single or combined mutations in the spike (S) protein, albeit the neutralizing antibody titers against some variants were slightly lower than against original SARS-CoV-2. This vaccine also significantly improved the neutralizing activity of the prototypic RBD against pseudotyped and authentic Delta (B.1.617.2 lineage) and Omicron (B.1.1.529 lineage) variants, although the neutralizing antibody titers were lower than against original SARS-CoV-2. In contrast to the prototypic RBD, the mutant RBD completely protected human ACE2 (hACE2)-transgenic mice from lethal challenge with a prototype SARS-CoV-2 strain and a Delta variant without weight loss. Overall, these findings indicate that this RBD vaccine has broad-spectrum activity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as the potential to be effective and have improved efficacy against Omicron and other pandemic variants. IMPORTANCE Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have shown increased transmissibility, calling for a need to develop effective vaccines with broadly neutralizing activity against multiple variants. This study identified a non-neutralizing epitope on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and further shielded it with a glycan probe. A subunit vaccine based on this mutant RBD significantly enhanced the ability of prototypic RBD against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Delta and Omicron strains, although the neutralizing antibody titers against some of these variants were lower than those against original SARS-CoV-2. This mutant vaccine also enhanced the protective efficacy of the prototypic RBD vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunized animals. In conclusion, this study identified an engineered RBD vaccine against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants that induced stronger neutralizing antibodies and protection than the original RBD vaccine. It also highlights the need to improve the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines to prevent pandemic SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Collapse
|