1
|
Lu J, Tan S, Gu H, Liu K, Huang W, Yu Z, Lu G, Wu Z, Gao X, Zhao J, Yao Z, Yi F, Yang Y, Wang H, Hu X, Lu M, Li W, Zhou H, Yu H, Shan C, Lin J. Effectiveness of a broad-spectrum bivalent mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in preclinical studies. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2321994. [PMID: 38377136 PMCID: PMC10906132 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2321994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Vaccines utilizing modified messenger RNA (mRNA) technology have shown robust protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in humans. As the virus continues to evolve in both human and non-human hosts, risk remains that the performance of the vaccines can be compromised by new variants with strong immune escape abilities. Here we present preclinical characterizations of a novel bivalent mRNA vaccine RQ3025 for its safety and effectiveness in animal models. The mRNA sequence of the vaccine is designed to incorporate common mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that have been discovered along the evolutionary paths of different variants. Broad-spectrum, high-titer neutralizing antibodies against multiple variants were induced in mice (BALB/c and K18-hACE2), hamsters and rats upon injections of RQ3025, demonstrating advantages over the monovalent mRNA vaccines. Effectiveness in protection against several newly emerged variants is also evident in RQ3025-vaccinated rats. Analysis of splenocytes derived cytokines in BALB/c mice suggested that a Th1-biased cellular immune response was induced by RQ3025. Histological analysis of multiple organs in rats following injection of a high dose of RQ3025 showed no evidence of pathological changes. This study proves the safety and effectiveness of RQ3025 as a broad-spectrum vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in animal models and lays the foundation for its potential clinical application in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shudan Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Gu
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kunpeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhaoli Yu
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guoliang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zihan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Gao
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinghua Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zongting Yao
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Yi
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yantao Yang
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hu Wang
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue Hu
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingqing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hang Yu
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chao Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinzhong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Center for mRNA Translational Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|