An Outline of Contributing Vaccine Technologies for SARS CoV2 Advancing in Clinical and Preclinical Phase-Trials

An Outline of the Immunogenic Potential of Progressing SARSCoV- 2 Vaccine Technologies among Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2, a highly dynamic beta-coronavirus, can afflict all age groups. Notably, over 16100 mortalities have been recorded among children as yet. In this regard, many vaccine projects are operational to assess immuno-potency among young cohorts. A bulk of reports have evidenced the efficacy of these immunization technologies in the elderly population, though the impact is yet to be determined among children.

OBJECTIVES

This review is envisioned to outline the current efficacy of contributing vaccine technologies and examine the dose-dependent impact of immunization regimens in lowering the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and adolescents. Furthermore, the current review exclusively estimated the vaccine impact at current doses.

METHODS

A total of 52 research papers extracted from PubMed, Pubmed Central, Science Direct, Research Gate, Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar were screened along with an emphasis on patents. Inclusion criteria involved all published reports directly or indirectly linked to the contributing vaccine candidates that are operational among the young cohort. Unrelated research papers were excluded from the study. Key search terminologies included information on vaccine identifiers, such as name, type and clinical trial ID, and successively restricted to children and adolscents age groups.

RESULTS

Several vaccine designs, such as mRNA-based vaccinations, viral vector vaccines, DNA vaccines, inactivated vaccines, recombinant vaccines, and protein-based immunizations, are being examined at various stages of clinical trials to gauge the effects on children and adolescents. With reference to the published reports, the mRNA 1273 (1610 GMT; 6-10 yrs, 1401 GMT; 12-15 yrs), BNT162b2 (1407 GMT; 6 months- <2 yrs, 1535 GMT; 2-4 yrs, 4583 GMT; 5-11 yrs, 1239.5 GMT; 12-15 yrs) and Ad5 nCoV (1037.5 GMT; 6-17 yrs) offered relatively high neutralization titers with sharp seroconversion rates compared to MVC-COV1901 (648.5 GMT; 12-17 yrs) and ZyCoV-D (133.49 GMT; 12-17 yrs), which produced modest immune responses.

CONCLUSION

Currently, the WHO is analyzing emerging evidence to issue an emergency use list of vaccines for vaccinating children and adolescents.

Virus-like particle vaccines with epitopes from porcine epidemic virus and transmissible gastroenteritis virus incorporated into self-assembling ADDomer platform provide clinical immune responses in piglets

Introduction

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) are major intestinal coronaviruses that cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and mortality in piglets. These viruses coexist and lead to significant economic losses in the swine industry. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional inactivated vaccines due to their exceptional safety, efficacy, and ability to provide multi-disease protection with a single dose.

Methods

Our study focused on specific antigenic epitopes from the PEDV S protein (SS2 and 2C10 regions) and the TGEV S protein (A and D sites) as target candidates. These epitopes were integrated into the ADDomer framework, and we successfully generated recombinant proteins AD, AD-P, AD-T, and AD-PT using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). By meticulously optimizing conditions in High Five cells, we successfully expressed and purified the recombinant proteins. Subsequently, we developed the recombinant ADDomer-VLP vaccine and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of its efficacy in piglets.

Results

Following ultrafiltration concentration and sucrose gradient centrifugation purification, the recombinant proteins self-assembled into VLPs as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Administration of the vaccine did not result in any adverse reactions in the immunized piglets. Additionally, no significant instances of fever were detected in any of the experimental groups, and there were no notable changes in average daily weight gain compared to the control group that received PBS. The recombinant ADDomer-VLP vaccines demonstrated strong immunogenicity, effectively stimulating the production of neutralizing antibodies against both PEDV and TGEV. Moreover, the recombinant ADDomer-VLP vaccine induced elevated levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4, and enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in the peripheral blood of piglets.

Discussion

These recombinant VLPs have demonstrated the ability to induce strong cellular and humoral immune responses in piglets, making them an incredibly promising platform for the rapid and simplified development of epitope vaccines.

In vitro generated antibodies guide thermostable ADDomer nanoparticle design for nasal vaccination and passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2

Background

Due to COVID-19, pandemic preparedness emerges as a key imperative, necessitating new approaches to accelerate development of reagents against infectious pathogens.

Methods

Here, we developed an integrated approach combining synthetic, computational and structural methods with in vitro antibody selection and in vivo immunization to design, produce and validate nature-inspired nanoparticle-based reagents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Results

Our approach resulted in two innovations: (i) a thermostable nasal vaccine called ADDoCoV, displaying multiple copies of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif derived epitope and (ii) a multivalent nanoparticle superbinder, called Gigabody, against SARS-CoV-2 including immune-evasive variants of concern (VOCs). In vitro generated neutralizing nanobodies and electron cryo-microscopy established authenticity and accessibility of epitopes displayed by ADDoCoV. Gigabody comprising multimerized nanobodies prevented SARS-CoV-2 virion attachment with picomolar EC50. Vaccinating mice resulted in antibodies cross-reacting with VOCs including Delta and Omicron.

Conclusion

Our study elucidates Adenovirus-derived dodecamer (ADDomer)-based nanoparticles for use in active and passive immunization and provides a blueprint for crafting reagents to combat respiratory viral infections.

Comparative assessment of SARS CoV2-associated mortalities in 3 COVID waves and related risk factors: The South Kashmir's experience

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have spurted in three major waves in India at different times and had different levels of severity in different waves. The objective of our study was to determine the comparative mortality rate in three COVID-19 waves and determine the factors associated with mortality.

Methods

We identified a cohort of 1,132 COVID-19 patients who were admitted between April 14, 2020 and February 08, 2022 at our center. All the admitted patients with positive COVID-polymerase chain reaction were included in the study. Sample characteristics were determined by screening age, sex, socio-economic status, occupation, symptomatology of COVID, patient status on admission, baseline investigations, comorbidities, medical history, oxygen dosage needed during admission, the span of hospital stay, diagnosis, and vitals such as blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation. All the data were procured from an institutional database.

Results

In total, 1,132 patients included in the study, the mean age was 65.08 ± 12.29 and 56% were males. The affliction rate was 42.13% in >60 years, 29.5% in 46-60 years, 20.8% in 31-45 years, and 7.4% in 30 years' group. In the first, second, and third waves of COVID-19, the mortality rates were 13.21%, 23.53%, and 11.39%, respectively. Among the comorbidities, mortality rates were proportionately higher in those with hypertension (6.7%), and diabetes (5.5%), than those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.3%), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (1.5%), heart disease (1.6%), and malignancy (0.2%).

Conclusion

We identify the peaked mortalities in the second encounter which was predicted by age, comorbidities such as hypertension, and diabetes.