1
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Liang Y, Xiao W, Peng Y, Zhang S, Dong J, Zhao J, Wang Y, Zhang M, Liu Z, Yu B. Development of nanoparticle vaccines utilizing designed Fc-binding homo-oligomers and RBD-Fc of SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral Res 2024; 227:105917. [PMID: 38782067 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105917] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The Fc-fused receptor binding domain (RBD-Fc) vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 has garnered significant attention for its capacity to provide effective and specific immune protection. However, its immunogenicity is limited, highlighting the need for improvement in clinical application. Nanoparticle delivery has been shown to be an effective method for enhancing antigen immunogenicity. In this study, we developed bivalent nanoparticle recombinant protein vaccines by assembling the RBD-Fc of SARS-CoV-2 and Fc-binding homo-oligomers o42.1 and i52.3 into octahedral and icosahedral nanoparticles. The formation of RBD-Fc nanoparticles was confirmed through structural characterization and cell binding experiments. Compared to RBD-Fc dimers, the nanoparticle vaccines induced more potent neutralizing antibodies (nAb) and stronger cellular immune responses. Therefore, using bivalent nanoparticle vaccines based on RBD-Fc presents a promising vaccination strategy against SARS-CoV-2 and offers a universal approach for enhancing the immunogenicity of Fc fusion protein vaccines.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Mice
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/immunology
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/chemistry
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Nanovaccines
- Protein Binding
- Protein Multimerization
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Vaccine Development
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/chemistry
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucai Liang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Weiling Xiao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yuan Peng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Shengshuo Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jinhua Dong
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China; International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Jun Zhao
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agriculture Sciences in Weifang, Weifang, Shandong, 261325, China
| | - Yuhui Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Mengtao Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhijun Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Bowen Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China.
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2
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Sun Y, Li Q, Luo Y, Zhu H, Xu F, Lu H, Yao P, Wang Z, Zhao W, Zhou Z. Development of an RBD-Fc fusion vaccine for COVID-19. Vaccine X 2024; 16:100444. [PMID: 38327768 PMCID: PMC10847155 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has passed, there are still regional outbreaks that continue to jeopardize human health. Hence, there is still a great deal of interest in developing an efficient vaccine that can quickly and effectively prevent reemerging outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2. Delta variant was once a dominant strain in the world in 2021, and we first constructed a recombinant RBDdelta-Fc fusion vaccine by coupling the RBD of Delta variant with the human Fc fragment. This Fc fusion strategy increases the immunogenicity of the recombinant RBD vaccine, with a long-lasting high level of IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies induced by RBDdelta-Fc vaccine. This RBDdelta-Fc vaccine, as well as the RBD-Fc vaccine prepared in our previously study, could trigger a durable immune effect by the heterologous boosting immunity, and the RBD-Fc induced a quicker humoral immune response than the homologous immunization with inactivated vaccines. In conclusion, the Fc fusion strategy has a significant role in enhancing the immunogenicity of recombinant protein vaccines, thus promising the development of a safe and efficient vaccine for the heterologous boosting against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Sun
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Qiaomin Li
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuanyuan Luo
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hanping Zhu
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Fang Xu
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Hangjing Lu
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Pingping Yao
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Key Lab of Vaccine, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Wenbin Zhao
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhan Zhou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, 322000, China
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3
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Shorayeva K, Nakhanov A, Nurpeisova A, Chervyakova O, Jekebekov K, Abay Z, Assanzhanova N, Sadikaliyeva S, Kalimolda E, Terebay A, Moldagulova S, Absatova Z, Tulendibayev A, Kopeyev S, Nakhanova G, Issabek A, Nurabayev S, Kerimbayev A, Kutumbetov L, Abduraimov Y, Kassenov M, Orynbayev M, Zakarya K. Pre-Clinical Safety and Immunogenicity Study of a Coronavirus Protein-Based Subunit Vaccine for COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1771. [PMID: 38140175 PMCID: PMC10748237 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121771] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Creating an effective and safe vaccine is critical to fighting the coronavirus infection successfully. Several types of COVID-19 vaccines exist, including inactivated, live attenuated, recombinant, synthetic peptide, virus-like particle-based, DNA and mRNA-based, and sub-unit vaccines containing purified immunogenic viral proteins. However, the scale and speed at which COVID-19 is spreading demonstrate a global public demand for an effective prophylaxis that must be supplied more. The developed products promise a bright future for SARS-CoV-2 prevention; however, evidence of safety and immunogenicity is mandatory before any vaccine can be produced. In this paper, we report on the results of our work examining the safety, toxicity, immunizing dose choice, and immunogenicity of QazCoVac-P, a Kazakhstan-made sub-unit vaccine for COVID-19. First, we looked into the product's safety profile by assessing its pyrogenicity in vaccinated rabbit models and using the LAL (limulus amebocyte lysate) test. We examined the vaccine's acute and sub-chronic toxicity on BALB/c mice and rats. The vaccine did not cause clinically significant toxicity-related changes or symptoms in our toxicity experiments. Finally, we performed a double immunization of mice, ferrets, Syrian hamsters, and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We used ELISA to measure antibody titers with the maximum mean geometric titer of antibodies in the animals' blood sera totaling approximately 8 log2. The results of this and other studies warrant recommending the QazCoVac-P vaccine for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ainur Nurpeisova
- Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gvardeiskiy 080409, Kazakhstan (Z.A.); (E.K.); (Z.A.)
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4
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Boggiano-Ayo T, Palacios-Oliva J, Lozada-Chang S, Relova-Hernandez E, Gomez-Perez J, Oliva G, Hernandez L, Bueno-Soler A, Montes de Oca D, Mora O, Machado-Santisteban R, Perez-Martinez D, Perez-Masson B, Cabrera Infante Y, Calzadilla-Rosado L, Ramirez Y, Aymed-Garcia J, Ruiz-Ramirez I, Romero Y, Gomez T, Espinosa LA, Gonzalez LJ, Cabrales A, Guirola O, de la Luz KR, Pi-Estopiñan F, Sanchez-Ramirez B, Garcia-Rivera D, Valdes-Balbin Y, Rojas G, Leon-Monzon K, Ojito-Magaz E, Hardy E. Development of a scalable single process for producing SARS-CoV-2 RBD monomer and dimer vaccine antigens. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1287551. [PMID: 38050488 PMCID: PMC10693982 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1287551] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a single process for producing two key COVID-19 vaccine antigens: SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) monomer and dimer. These antigens are featured in various COVID-19 vaccine formats, including SOBERANA 01 and the licensed SOBERANA 02, and SOBERANA Plus. Our approach involves expressing RBD (319-541)-His6 in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells, generating and characterizing oligoclones, and selecting the best RBD-producing clones. Critical parameters such as copper supplementation in the culture medium and cell viability influenced the yield of RBD dimer. The purification of RBD involved standard immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC), ion exchange chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography. Our findings suggest that copper can improve IMAC performance. Efficient RBD production was achieved using small-scale bioreactor cell culture (2 L). The two RBD forms - monomeric and dimeric RBD - were also produced on a large scale (500 L). This study represents the first large-scale application of perfusion culture for the production of RBD antigens. We conducted a thorough analysis of the purified RBD antigens, which encompassed primary structure, protein integrity, N-glycosylation, size, purity, secondary and tertiary structures, isoform composition, hydrophobicity, and long-term stability. Additionally, we investigated RBD-ACE2 interactions, in vitro ACE2 recognition of RBD, and the immunogenicity of RBD antigens in mice. We have determined that both the monomeric and dimeric RBD antigens possess the necessary quality attributes for vaccine production. By enabling the customizable production of both RBD forms, this unified manufacturing process provides the required flexibility to adapt rapidly to the ever-changing demands of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and different COVID-19 vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Boggiano-Ayo
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Oliva
- Process Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Alexi Bueno-Soler
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Osvaldo Mora
- Process Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Dayana Perez-Martinez
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Beatriz Perez-Masson
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Yaima Ramirez
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Judey Aymed-Garcia
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Yamile Romero
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Gomez
- Quality Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Annia Cabrales
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Playa, Cuba
| | - Osmany Guirola
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Playa, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gertrudis Rojas
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Kalet Leon-Monzon
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Eugenio Hardy
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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5
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Li CJ, Jiang CL, Chao TL, Lin SY, Tsai YM, Chao CS, Su YT, Chen CJ, Chang SY, Lin FJ, Chang SC. Elicitation of potent neutralizing antibodies in obese mice by ISA 51-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD-Fc vaccine. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2983-2995. [PMID: 36988669 PMCID: PMC10049902 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12490-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination is considered to be the most effective countermeasure to prevent and combat the global health threats of COVID-19. People with obesity are at a greater risk of hospitalization, life-threatening illness, and adverse outcomes after having COVID-19. Therefore, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for obese individuals is urgently needed. In the study, the vaccine composed of the ISA 51 adjuvant and the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) receptor-binding domain (RBD) in conjugation with the human IgG1 Fc fragment (named as ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine) was developed and inoculated in the regular chow diet (RCD) lean mice and the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The S protein-specific IgG titers were largely induced in an increasing manner along with three doses of ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine without causing any harmful side effect. In the HFD mice, the S protein-specific IgG titers can be quickly observed 2 weeks post the first inoculation. The antisera elicited by the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine in the RCD and HFD mice exhibited potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activities in the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) assays and showed similar specificity for recognizing the key residues in the RBD which were involved in interacting with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The immune efficacy of the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine in the HFD mice can be sustainably maintained with the PRNT50 values of 1.80-1.91×10-3 for at least 8 weeks post the third inoculation. Collectively, the RBD-Fc-based immunogen and the ISA 51-adjuvanted formulation can be developed as an effective COVID-19 vaccine for obese individuals. KEY POINTS: • The ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can induce potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in the obese mouse • The antibodies elicited by the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can bind to the key RBD residues involved in interacting with ACE2 • The immune efficacy of the ISA 51-adjuvanted RBD-Fc vaccine can be sustainably maintained for at least 8 weeks post the third inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Jung Li
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Lin Jiang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Ling Chao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Shiau-Yu Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Min Tsai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Syun Chao
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Su
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Jen Chen
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Fu-Jung Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Shih-Chung Chang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
- Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
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6
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Intranasal Boosting with Spike Fc-RBD of Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2 Induces Neutralizing Antibodies against Omicron Subvariants and Reduces Viral Load in the Nasal Turbinate of Mice. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030687. [PMID: 36992395 PMCID: PMC10052291 DOI: 10.3390/v15030687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new immune-evasive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and subvariants outpaces the development of vaccines specific against the dominant circulating strains. In terms of the only accepted immune correlate of protection, the inactivated whole-virion vaccine using wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike induces a much lower serum neutralizing antibody titre against the Omicron subvariants. Since the inactivated vaccine given intramuscularly is one of the most commonly used coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in developing regions, we tested the hypothesis that intranasal boosting after intramuscular priming would provide a broader level of protection. Here, we showed that one or two intranasal boosts with the Fc-linked trimeric spike receptor-binding domain from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 can induce significantly higher serum neutralizing antibodies against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron subvariants, including BA.5.2 and XBB.1, with a lower titre in the bronchoalveolar lavage of vaccinated Balb/c mice than vaccination with four intramuscular doses of inactivated whole virion vaccine. The intranasally vaccinated K18-hACE2-transgenic mice also had a significantly lower nasal turbinate viral load, suggesting a better protection of the upper airway, which is the predilected site of infection by Omicron subvariants. This intramuscular priming and intranasal boosting approach that achieves broader cross-protection against Omicron variants and subvariants may lengthen the interval required for changing the vaccine immunogen from months to years.
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7
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Logue J, Johnson RM, Patel N, Zhou B, Maciejewski S, Foreman B, Zhou H, Portnoff AD, Tian JH, Rehman A, McGrath ME, Haupt RE, Weston SM, Baracco L, Hammond H, Guebre-Xabier M, Dillen C, Madhangi M, Greene AM, Massare MJ, Glenn GM, Smith G, Frieman MB. Immunogenicity and protection of a variant nanoparticle vaccine that confers broad neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1130. [PMID: 36854666 PMCID: PMC9972327 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35606-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged with elevated transmission and a higher risk of infection for vaccinated individuals. We demonstrate that a recombinant prefusion-stabilized spike (rS) protein vaccine based on Beta/B.1.351 (rS-Beta) produces a robust anamnestic response in baboons against SARS-CoV-2 variants when given as a booster one year after immunization with NVX-CoV2373. Additionally, rS-Beta is highly immunogenic in mice and produces neutralizing antibodies against WA1/2020, Beta/B.1.351, and Omicron/BA.1. Mice vaccinated with two doses of Novavax prototype NVX-CoV2373 (rS-WU1) or rS-Beta alone, in combination, or heterologous prime-boost, are protected from challenge. Virus titer is undetectable in lungs in all vaccinated mice, and Th1-skewed cellular responses are observed. We tested sera from a panel of variant spike protein vaccines and find broad neutralization and inhibition of spike:ACE2 binding from the rS-Beta and rS-Delta vaccines against a variety of variants including Omicron. This study demonstrates that rS-Beta vaccine alone or in combination with rS-WU1 induces antibody-and cell-mediated responses that are protective against challenge with SARS-CoV-2 variants and offers broader neutralizing capacity than a rS-WU1 prime/boost regimen alone. Together, these nonhuman primate and murine data suggest a Beta variant booster dose could elicit a broad immune response to fight new and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Logue
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert M Johnson
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Nita Patel
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Bin Zhou
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | | | - Bryant Foreman
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Haixia Zhou
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | | | - Jing-Hui Tian
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Asma Rehman
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Marisa E McGrath
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert E Haupt
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Stuart M Weston
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Lauren Baracco
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Holly Hammond
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 1164, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Carly Dillen
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - M Madhangi
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Ann M Greene
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | | | - Greg M Glenn
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Gale Smith
- Novavax, Inc, 21 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Matthew B Frieman
- The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Center for Pathogen Research, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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8
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Sun C, Kong D, Guo E, Zhao J, Jia J, Wang R, Ma J, Chen M, Lu J, Yu C, Li K, Xie L. A Polysaccharide-RBD-Fc-Conjugated COVID-19 Vaccine, SCTV01A, Showed High Immunogenicity and Low Toxicity in Animal Models. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030526. [PMID: 36992109 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously developed a polysaccharide-–RBD-conjugated nanoparticle vaccine which induced protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model. Here, we newly developed a vaccine, SCTV01A, by chemically conjugating recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc and PPS14 (Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype type 14 capsular polysaccharide). The immunogenicity and toxicity of SCTV01A were evaluated in animal models. The PPS14 conjugation enhanced the immunogenicity of RBD-Fc in C57BL/6 mice whether formulated with SCT-VA02B or Alum adjuvant. SCTV01A also induced high opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against S. pneumoniae serotype 14. In addition, SCTV01A stimulated potent neutralizing titers in rhesus macaques and effectively reduced lung inflammation after SARS-CoV-2 infection with neither antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) nor vaccine-enhanced diseases (VED) phenomenon. Importantly, the long-term toxicity study of SCTV01A in rhesus macaques did not cause any abnormal toxicity and was tolerated at the highest tested dose (120 μg). The existing immunogenicity and toxicological evaluation results have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of SCTV01A, which will be a promising and feasible vaccine to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyun Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Desheng Kong
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Erhong Guo
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jilei Jia
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Juan Ma
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Meng Chen
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Jianbo Lu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Chulin Yu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Kuokuo Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Liangzhi Xie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Monoclonal Antibody Research and Development, Sino Biological Inc., Beijing 100176, China
- Cell Culture Engineering Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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Özcengiz E, Keser D, Özcengiz G, Çelik G, Özkul A, İnçeh FN. Two formulations of coronavirus disease-19 recombinant subunit vaccine candidate made up of S1 fragment protein P1, S2 fragment protein P2, and nucleocapsid protein elicit strong immunogenicity in mice. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e748. [PMID: 36444622 PMCID: PMC9695085 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is ongoing as a global epidemic and there is still a need to develop much safer and more effective new vaccines that can also be easily adapted to important variants of the pathogen. In the present study in this direction, we developed a new COVID-19 vaccine, composed of two critical antigenic fragments of the S1 and S2 region of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 as well as the whole nucleocapsid protein (N), which was formulated with either alum or alum plus monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) adjuvant combinations. METHODS From within the spike protein S1 region, a fragmented protein P1 (MW:33 kDa) which includes the receptor-binding domain (RBD), another fragment protein P2 (MW:17.6) which contains important antigenic epitopes within the spike protein S2 region, and N protein (MW:46 kDa) were obtained after recombinant expression of the corresponding gene regions in Escherichia coli BL21. For use in immunization studies, three proteins were adsorbed with aluminum hydroxide gel and with the combination of aluminum hydroxide gel plus MPLA. RESULTS Each of the three protein antigens produced strong reactions in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western blot analysis studies performed with convalescent COVID-19 patient sera. In mice, these combined protein vaccine candidates elicited high titer anti-P1, anti-P2, and anti-N IgG and IgG2a responses. These also induced highly neutralizing antibodies and elicited significant cell-mediated immunity as demonstrated by enhanced antigen-specific levels of interferon-γ (INF-γ) in the splenocytes of immunized mice. CONCLUSION The results of this study showed that formulations of the three proteins with Alum or Alum + MPLA are effective in terms of humoral and cellular responses. However, since the Alum + MPLA formulation appears to be superior in Th1 response, this vaccine candidate may be recommended mainly for the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. We also believe that the alum-only formulation will provide great benefits for adults, young adolescents, and children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Duygu Keser
- Vaccine R&DPharmada PharmaceuticalsAnkaraTurkey
| | - Gülay Özcengiz
- Department of Biological SciencesMiddle East Technical UniversityAnkaraTurkey
| | - Gözde Çelik
- Vaccine R&DPharmada PharmaceuticalsAnkaraTurkey
| | - Aykut Özkul
- Department of Virology, School of Veterinary MedicineAnkara UniversityAnkaraTurkey
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