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Liu Q, Lu Y, Cai C, Huang Y, Zhou L, Guan Y, Fu S, Lin Y, Yan H, Zhang Z, Li X, Yang X, Yang H, Guo H, Lan K, Chen Y, Hou SC, Xiong Y. A broad neutralizing nanobody against SARS-CoV-2 engineered from an approved drug. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:458. [PMID: 38937437 PMCID: PMC11211474 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06802-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection is initiated by Spike glycoprotein binding to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor via its receptor binding domain. Blocking this interaction has been proven to be an effective approach to inhibit virus infection. Here we report the discovery of a neutralizing nanobody named VHH60, which was directly produced from an engineering nanobody library based on a commercialized nanobody within a very short period. VHH60 competes with human ACE2 to bind the receptor binding domain of the Spike protein at S351, S470-471and S493-494 as determined by structural analysis, with an affinity of 2.56 nM. It inhibits infections of both ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and pseudotyped viruses harboring SARS-CoV-2 wildtype, key mutations or variants at the nanomolar level. Furthermore, VHH60 suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection and propagation 50-fold better and protected mice from death for twice as long as the control group after SARS-CoV-2 nasal infections in vivo. Therefore, VHH60 is not only a powerful nanobody with a promising profile for disease control but also provides evidence for a highly effective and rapid approach to generating therapeutic nanobodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yuchi Lu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | | | - Yanyan Huang
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Animal Biosafety Level-III Laboratory/Institute for Vaccine Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yanbin Guan
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shiying Fu
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youyou Lin
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Animal Biosafety Level-III Laboratory/Institute for Vaccine Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiuna Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Hangtian Guo
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Animal Biosafety Level-III Laboratory/Institute for Vaccine Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | | | - Yi Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Bioduro-sundia LLC., Wuxi, 214174, Jiangsu, China.
- Bayray Innovation Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Shempela DM, Chambaro HM, Sikalima J, Cham F, Njuguna M, Morrison L, Mudenda S, Chanda D, Kasanga M, Daka V, Kwenda G, Musonda K, Munsaka S, Chilengi R, Sichinga K, Simulundu E. Detection and Characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 in Eastern Province of Zambia: A Retrospective Genomic Surveillance Study. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6338. [PMID: 38928045 PMCID: PMC11203853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126338] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations have driven the evolution and development of new variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with potential implications for increased transmissibility, disease severity and vaccine escape among others. Genome sequencing is a technique that allows scientists to read the genetic code of an organism and has become a powerful tool for studying emerging infectious diseases. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study in selected districts of the Eastern Province of Zambia, from November 2021 to February 2022. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 samples (n = 76) using high-throughput sequencing. A total of 4097 mutations were identified in 69 SARS-CoV-2 genomes with 47% (1925/4097) of the mutations occurring in the spike protein. We identified 83 unique amino acid mutations in the spike protein of the seven Omicron sublineages (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.1.14, BA.1.18, BA.1.21, BA.2, BA.2.23 and XT). Of these, 43.4% (36/83) were present in the receptor binding domain, while 14.5% (12/83) were in the receptor binding motif. While we identified a potential recombinant XT strain, the highly transmissible BA.2 sublineage was more predominant (40.8%). We observed the substitution of other variants with the Omicron strain in the Eastern Province. This work shows the importance of pandemic preparedness and the need to monitor disease in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herman M. Chambaro
- Virology Unit, Central Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Jay Sikalima
- Churches Health Association of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (J.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Fatim Cham
- Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), 1201 Geneva, Switzerland; (F.C.); (M.N.); (L.M.)
| | - Michael Njuguna
- Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), 1201 Geneva, Switzerland; (F.C.); (M.N.); (L.M.)
| | - Linden Morrison
- Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), 1201 Geneva, Switzerland; (F.C.); (M.N.); (L.M.)
| | - Steward Mudenda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Duncan Chanda
- University Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Maisa Kasanga
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
| | - Victor Daka
- Public Health Department, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola 21692, Zambia;
| | - Geoffrey Kwenda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (G.K.); (S.M.)
| | - Kunda Musonda
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (K.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Sody Munsaka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (G.K.); (S.M.)
| | - Roma Chilengi
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (K.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Karen Sichinga
- Churches Health Association of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (J.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Edgar Simulundu
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Macha Research Trust, Choma 20100, Zambia
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3
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Hu H, Ma F, Gong L, Wang Y, Xu M, Sun H, Hu Q, Wang P, Han L, Xie H. Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant Omicron BA.4/5-Delta COVID-19 vaccine ZF2202-A in Chinese adults. Vaccine 2024; 42:3522-3528. [PMID: 38704251 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.058] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Recombinant Omicron BA.4/5-Delta COVID-19 Vaccine (ZF2202-A) is primarily designed for the Delta and Omicron BA.4/5 variants. Our objective was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of ZF2202-A in Chinese adults. METHODS A total of 450 participants aged ≥ 18 years, who had completed primary or booster vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine more than 6 months prior, were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial. Participants in the study and control groups were administered one dose of ZF2202-A and ZF2001, respectively. Immunogenicity subgroups were established in each group. RESULTS At 14 days after vaccination, the seroconversion rates of Omicron BA.4/5, BF.7, and XBB.1 in the ZF2022-A group were 67.7 %, 58.6 %, and 62.6 %, with geometric mean titers (GMTs) of neutralizing antibodies at 350.2, 491.8, and 49.5, respectively. The main adverse reactions (ARs) were vaccination site pain, pruritus, fatigue, and asthenia in both the ZF2022-A group and ZF2001 group. CONCLUSIONS The novel bivalent vaccine ZF2202-A demonstrated satisfactory immunogenicity and safety against Omicron variants as booster dose in adults with prior vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Hu
- Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Fangli Ma
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lihui Gong
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yaqin Wang
- Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Maodi Xu
- Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Hua Sun
- Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Qianqian Hu
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lu Han
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Haitang Xie
- Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China.
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Martins M, Nooruzzaman M, Cunningham JL, Ye C, Caserta LC, Jackson N, Martinez-Sobrido L, Fang Y, Diel DG. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike is a virulence determinant and plays a major role on the attenuated phenotype of Omicron virus in a feline model of infection. J Virol 2024; 98:e0190223. [PMID: 38421180 PMCID: PMC10949471 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01902-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.1 Spike (S) on disease pathogenesis was investigated. For this, we generated recombinant viruses harboring the S D614G mutation (rWA1-D614G) and the Omicron BA.1 S gene (rWA1-Omi-S) in the backbone of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 WA1 strain genome. The recombinant viruses were characterized in vitro and in vivo. Viral entry, cell-cell fusion, plaque size, and the replication kinetics of the rWA1-Omi-S virus were markedly impaired when compared to the rWA1-D614G virus, demonstrating a lower fusogenicity and ability to spread cell-to-cell of rWA1-Omi-S. To assess the contribution of the Omicron BA.1 S protein to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, the pathogenicity of rWA1-D614G and rWA1-Omi-S viruses was compared in a feline model. While the rWA1-D614G-inoculated cats were lethargic and showed increased body temperatures on days 2 and 3 post-infection (pi), rWA1-Omi-S-inoculated cats remained subclinical and gained weight throughout the 14-day experimental period. Animals inoculated with rWA1-D614G presented higher infectious virus shedding in nasal secretions, when compared to rWA1-Omi-S-inoculated animals. In addition, tissue replication of the rWA1-Omi-S was markedly reduced compared to the rWA1-D614G, as evidenced by lower viral load in tissues on days 3 and 5 pi. Histologic examination of the nasal turbinate and lungs revealed intense inflammatory infiltration in rWA1-D614G-inoculated animals, whereas rWA1-Omi-S-inoculated cats presented only mild to modest inflammation. Together, these results demonstrate that the S protein is a major virulence determinant for SARS-CoV-2 playing a major role for the attenuated phenotype of the Omicron virus. IMPORTANCE We have demonstrated that the Omicron BA.1.1 variant presents lower pathogenicity when compared to D614G (B.1) lineage in a feline model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. There are over 50 mutations across the Omicron genome, of which more than two-thirds are present in the Spike (S) protein. To assess the role of the Omicron BA.1 S on virus pathogenesis, recombinant viruses harboring the S D614G mutation (rWA1-D614G) and the Omicron BA.1 Spike gene (rWA1-Omi-S) in the backbone of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 WA1 were generated. While the Omicron BA.1 S promoted early entry into cells, it led to impaired fusogenic activity and cell-cell spread. Infection studies with the recombinant viruses in a relevant naturally susceptible feline model of SARS-CoV-2 infection here revealed an attenuated phenotype of rWA1-Omi-S, demonstrating that the Omi-S is a major determinant of the attenuated disease phenotype of Omicron strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Martins
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Mohammed Nooruzzaman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jessie Lee Cunningham
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Leonardo Cardia Caserta
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Ying Fang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Diego G. Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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5
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Yao W, Li Y, Ma D, Hou X, Wang H, Tang X, Cheng D, Zhang H, Du C, Pan H, Li C, Lin H, Sun M, Ding Q, Wang Y, Gao J, Zhong G. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Spikes shapes their binding affinities to animal ACE2 orthologs. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0267623. [PMID: 37943512 PMCID: PMC10715038 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02676-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Spike-receptor interaction is a critical determinant for the host range of coronaviruses. In this study, we investigated the SARS-CoV-2 WHU01 strain and five WHO-designated SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and the early Omicron variant, for their Spike interactions with ACE2 proteins of 18 animal species. First, the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omicron were found to display progressive gain of affinity to mouse ACE2. More interestingly, these RBDs were also found with progressive loss of affinities to multiple ACE2 orthologs. The Omicron RBD showed decreased or complete loss of affinity to eight tested animal ACE2 orthologs, including that of some livestock animals (horse, donkey, and pig), pet animals (dog and cat), and wild animals (pangolin, American pika, and Rhinolophus sinicus bat). These findings shed light on potential host range shift of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, especially that of the Omicron variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitong Yao
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Hubei JiangXia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yujun Li
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Danting Ma
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xudong Hou
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haimin Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiaojuan Tang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dechun Cheng
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - He Zhang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chengzhi Du
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong Pan
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chao Li
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hua Lin
- Biomedical Research Center of South China, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mengsi Sun
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jiali Gao
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Chemistry and Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Guocai Zhong
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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6
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Zhang Q, Yang Y, Lan J, Wang Z, Gao Y, Li X, Mao W, Xie J, Mi LZ, Zhang X, Wang X, Mu X, Mei K. Inducing enhanced neutralizing antibodies against broad SARS-CoV-2 variants through glycan-shielding multiple non-neutralizing epitopes of RBD. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1259386. [PMID: 38149245 PMCID: PMC10750354 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, vaccines have demonstrated their effectiveness in resisting virus infection, reducing severity, and lowering the mortality rate in infected individuals. However, due to the rapid and ongoing mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the protective ability of many available vaccines has been challenged. Therefore, there is an urgent need for vaccines capable of eliciting potent broadly neutralizing antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods In this study, we developed a novel subunit vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2 by introducing a series of shielding glycans to the Fc-fused receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the prototypic spike protein. This approach aims to mask non-neutralizing epitopes and focus the immune response on crucial neutralizing epitopes. Results All modified sites were confirmed to be highly glycosylated through mass spectrometry analysis. The binding affinity of the glycan-shielded RBD (gsRBD) to the human ACE2 receptor was comparable to that of the wildtype RBD (wtRBD). Immunizing mice with gsRBD when combined with either Freund's adjuvant or aluminum adjuvant demonstrated that the introduction of the glycan shield did not compromise the antibody-inducing ability of RBD. Importantly, the gsRBD significantly enhanced the generation of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses compared to the wtRBD. Notably, it exhibited remarkable protective activity against Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529), approximately 3-fold, 7- fold, and 17-fold higher than wtRBD, respectively. Discussion Our data proved this multiple-epitope masking strategy as an effective approach for highly active vaccine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Lan
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weidong Mao
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Li-Zhi Mi
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinquan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Mu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University and Health-Biotech United Group Joint Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kunrong Mei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University and Health-Biotech United Group Joint Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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7
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Lv Y, Huang L, Wang J, He H, Song L, He J, Xu L, Yu C, Mei Y, Gao Q. A community study of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in China. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1282612. [PMID: 38143749 PMCID: PMC10748485 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1282612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The immune background of the overall population before and after the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in China remains unexplored. And the level of neutralizing antibodies is a reliable indicator of individual immunity. Objectives This study aimed to assess the immune levels of different population groups during a viral outbreak and identify the factors influencing these levels. Methods We measured the levels of neutralizing antibodies in 12,137 participants using the COVID19 Neutralizing Antibody Detection kit. The dynamics of neutralizing antibodies were analyzed using a generalized additive model, while a generalized linear model and multi-factor analysis of variance were employed to investigate the influencing factors. Additionally, statistical methods were used to compare neutralizing antibody levels among subgroups of the real-world population. Results Participants who received booster doses exhibited significantly higher levels of neutralizing antibodies compared to those who received only one or two doses (p<0.001). Both elderly [22.55 (5.12, 62.03) IU/mL, 55%] and minors [21.41 (8.15, 45.06) IU/mL, 56%] showed lower positivity rates and neutralizing antibody levels compared to young adults [29.30 (9.82, 188.08) IU/mL, 62%] (p<0.001). Furthermore, the HIV-positive group demonstrated a slightly lower seropositivity rate compared to the healthy group across the three vaccination time points. Notably, three months after the large-scale infection, both the neutralizing antibody level and positivity rate in real-world populations were higher than the previous record [300 (300, 300) IU/mL, 89%; 27.10 (8.77, 139.28) IU/mL, 60%], and this difference was statistically significant. Conclusions Increasing vaccine dosage enhances neutralizing antibody levels, resulting in greater and longer-lasting immunity. Monitoring immune levels in older individuals and those with AIDS is crucial. Additionally, the neutralizing antibodies generated from vaccination have not yet reached the threshold for achieving herd immunity, while individuals exhibit higher immune levels following a large-scale infection. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding new strategies in vaccine administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitong Lv
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Huang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Junhu Wang
- Health Management Center, AnQing Municipal Hospital, Anqing, Anhui, China
| | - Hui He
- Health Management Department, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Libo Song
- Health Examination Center, Central Hospital of Jin Zhou, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Jia He
- Health Service Center, Shulan (Hang Zhou) Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lida Xu
- Beijing Hotgen Biotech Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Mei
- Health Management (Medical Examination) Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qi Gao
- Beijing Hotgen Biotech Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
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8
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Bottero D, Rudi E, Martin Aispuro P, Zurita E, Gaillard E, Gonzalez Lopez Ledesma MM, Malito J, Stuible M, Ambrosis N, Durocher Y, Gamarnik AV, Wigdorovitz A, Hozbor D. Heterologous booster with a novel formulation containing glycosylated trimeric S protein is effective against Omicron. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1271209. [PMID: 38022542 PMCID: PMC10667599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1271209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a heterologous three-dose vaccination schedule against the Omicron BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 variant infection using a mouse intranasal challenge model. The vaccination schedules tested in this study consisted of a primary series of 2 doses covered by two commercial vaccines: an mRNA-based vaccine (mRNA1273) or a non-replicative vector-based vaccine (AZD1222/ChAdOx1, hereafter referred to as AZD1222). These were followed by a heterologous booster dose using one of the two vaccine candidates previously designed by us: one containing the glycosylated and trimeric spike protein (S) from the ancestral virus (SW-Vac 2µg), and the other from the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 (SD-Vac 2µg), both formulated with Alhydrogel as an adjuvant. For comparison purposes, homologous three-dose schedules of the commercial vaccines were used. The mRNA-based vaccine, whether used in heterologous or homologous schedules, demonstrated the best performance, significantly increasing both humoral and cellular immune responses. In contrast, for the schedules that included the AZD1222 vaccine as the primary series, the heterologous schemes showed superior immunological outcomes compared to the homologous 3-dose AZD1222 regimen. For these schemes no differences were observed in the immune response obtained when SW-Vac 2µg or SD-Vac 2µg were used as a booster dose. Neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron BA.1 were low, especially for the schedules using AZD1222. However, a robust Th1 profile, known to be crucial for protection, was observed, particularly for the heterologous schemes that included AZD1222. All the tested schedules were capable of inducing populations of CD4 T effector, memory, and follicular helper T lymphocytes. It is important to highlight that all the evaluated schedules demonstrated a satisfactory safety profile and induced multiple immunological markers of protection. Although the levels of these markers were different among the tested schedules, they appear to complement each other in conferring protection against intranasal challenge with Omicron BA.1 in K18-hACE2 mice. In summary, the results highlight the potential of using the S protein (either ancestral Wuhan or Delta variant)-based vaccine formulation as heterologous boosters in the management of COVID-19, particularly for certain commercial vaccines currently in use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Bottero
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Erika Rudi
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Pablo Martin Aispuro
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Zurita
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Emilia Gaillard
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Maria M. Gonzalez Lopez Ledesma
- Fundación Instituto Leloir-Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Malito
- INCUINTA Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), HURLINGHAM, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matthew Stuible
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Ambrosis
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Yves Durocher
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Andrea V. Gamarnik
- Fundación Instituto Leloir-Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Wigdorovitz
- INCUINTA Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), HURLINGHAM, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Hozbor
- Laboratorio VacSal, Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular (IBBM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CCT-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina
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Fang L, Xu J, Zhao Y, Fan J, Shen J, Liu W, Cao G. The effects of amino acid substitution of spike protein and genomic recombination on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1228128. [PMID: 37560529 PMCID: PMC10409611 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1228128] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Over three years' pandemic of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), multiple variants and novel subvariants have emerged successively, outcompeted earlier variants and become predominant. The sequential emergence of variants reflects the evolutionary process of mutation-selection-adaption of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Amino acid substitution/insertion/deletion in the spike protein causes altered viral antigenicity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Early in the pandemic, D614G mutation conferred virus with advantages over previous variants and increased transmissibility, and it also laid a conservative background for subsequent substantial mutations. The role of genomic recombination in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 raised increasing concern with the occurrence of novel recombinants such as Deltacron, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, and XBB.1.16 in the late phase of pandemic. Co-circulation of different variants and co-infection in immunocompromised patients accelerate the emergence of recombinants. Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations, particularly spike protein mutation and recombination, is essential to identify ongoing changes in the viral genome and antigenic epitopes and thus leads to the development of new vaccine strategies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letian Fang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Shanghai, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Foreign Languages, International Exchange Center for Military Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Shanghai, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Shanghai, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaying Shen
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Shanghai, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangwen Cao
- Key Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Shanghai, China
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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