RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 S-Trimer, a COVID-19 subunit vaccine candidate, induces protective immunity in nonhuman primates
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.09.24.311027
DO 10.1101/2020.09.24.311027
A1 Liang, Joshua G.
A1 Su, Danmei
A1 Song, Tian-Zhang
A1 Zeng, Yilan
A1 Huang, Weijin
A1 Wu, Jinhua
A1 Xu, Rong
A1 Luo, Peiwen
A1 Yang, Xiaofang
A1 Zhang, Xiaodong
A1 Luo, Shuangru
A1 Liang, Ying
A1 Li, Xinglin
A1 Huang, Jiaju
A1 Wang, Qiang
A1 Huang, Xueqin
A1 Xu, Qingsong
A1 Luo, Mei
A1 Huang, Anliang
A1 Luo, Dongxia
A1 Zhao, Chenyan
A1 Yang, Fan
A1 Han, Jian-Bao
A1 Zheng, Yong-Tang
A1 Liang, Peng
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/09/24/2020.09.24.311027.abstract
AB SARS-CoV-2 is the underlying cause for the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most enveloped RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 uses a homotrimeric surface antigen to gain entry into host cells. Here we describe S-Trimer, a native-like trimeric subunit vaccine candidate for COVID-19 based on Trimer-Tag technology. Immunization of S-Trimer with either AS03 (oil-in-water emulsion) or CpG 1018 (TLR9 agonist) plus alum adjuvants induced high-levels of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased cellular immune responses in animal models. Moreover, rhesus macaques immunized with adjuvanted S-Trimer were protected from SARS-CoV-2 challenge compared to vehicle controls, based on clinical observations and reduction of viral loads in lungs. Trimer-Tag may be an important new platform technology for scalable production and rapid development of safe and effective subunit vaccines against current and future emerging RNA viruses.Competing Interest StatementJ.G.L. and P.L. have ownership interest in Clover Biopharmaceuticals. All other authors have no competing interests.