Tetravalent SARS-CoV-2 S1 Subunit Protein Vaccination Elicits Robust Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaque Controllers

Authors

Muhammad S Khan
Eun Kim
Quentin Le Hingrat
Adam Kleinman
Alessandro Ferrari
Jose C Sammartino
Elena Percivalle
Cuiling Xu
Shaohua Huang
Thomas W Kenniston
Irene Cassaniti
Fausto Baldanti
Ivona Pandrea
Andrea Gambotto
Cristian Apetrei

Publication Date

10-31-2023

Journal

mBio

Abstract

The study provides important insights into the immunogenicity and efficacy of a tetravalent protein subunit vaccine candidate against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The vaccine induced both humoral and cellular immune responses in nonhuman primates with controlled SIVagm infection and was able to generate Omicron variant-specific antibodies without specifically vaccinating with Omicron. These findings suggest that the tetravalent composition of the vaccine candidate could provide broad protection against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants while minimizing the risk of immune escape and the emergence of new variants. Additionally, the use of rhesus macaques with controlled SIVsab infection may better represent vaccine immunogenicity in humans with chronic viral diseases, highlighting the importance of preclinical animal models in vaccine development. Overall, the study provides valuable information for the development and implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines, particularly for achieving global vaccine equity and addressing emerging variants.

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Macaca mulatta, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Vaccination, COVID-19 Vaccines, Immunity, Cellular, Antibodies, Viral, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Comments

PMID: 37830800