RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Recombinant protein subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccines formulated with CoVaccine HT adjuvant induce broad, Th1 biased, humoral and cellular immune responses in mice
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.03.02.433614
DO 10.1101/2021.03.02.433614
A1 Lai, Chih-Yun
A1 To, Albert
A1 Wong, Teri Ann S.
A1 Lieberman, Michael M.
A1 Clements, David E.
A1 Senda, James T.
A1 Ball, Aquena H.
A1 Pessaint, Laurent
A1 Andersen, Hanne
A1 Donini, Oreola
A1 Lehrer, Axel T.
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/03/2021.03.02.433614.abstract
AB The speed at which several COVID-19 vaccines went from conception to receiving FDA and EMA approval for emergency use is an achievement unrivaled in the history of vaccine development. Mass vaccination efforts using the highly effective vaccines are currently underway to generate sufficient herd immunity and reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite the most advanced vaccine technology, global recipient coverage, especially in resource-poor areas remains a challenge as genetic drift in naïve population pockets threatens overall vaccine efficacy. In this study, we described the production of insect-cell expressed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ectodomain and examined its immunogenicity in mice. We demonstrated that, when formulated with CoVaccine HT™adjuvant, an oil-in-water nanoemulsion compatible with lyophilization, our vaccine candidates elicit a broad-spectrum IgG response, high neutralizing antibody titers, and a robust, antigen-specific IFN-γ secreting response from immune splenocytes in outbred mice. Our findings lay the foundation for the development of a dry-thermostabilized vaccine that is deployable without refrigeration.Competing Interest StatementAxel T. Lehrer and Oreola Donini are named inventors on a patent application covering a recombinant subunit vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. David E. Clements and James T. Senda, are current employees of Hawaii Biotech Inc. Laurent Pessaint and Hanne Andersen are current employees of BIOQUAL, Inc. Oreola Donini is a current employee of Soligenix Inc. We declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.