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Li W, Wang T, Rajendrakumar AM, Acharya G, Miao Z, Varghese BP, Yu H, Dhakal B, LeRoith T, Karunakaran A, Tuo W, Zhu X. An FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7114. [PMID: 37932271 PMCID: PMC10628175 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42796-0] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted through droplets and airborne aerosols, and in order to prevent infection and reduce viral spread vaccines should elicit protective immunity in the airways. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) transfers IgG across epithelial barriers and can enhance mucosal delivery of antigens. Here we explore FcRn-mediated respiratory delivery of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S). A monomeric IgG Fc was fused to a stabilized spike; the resulting S-Fc bound to S-specific antibodies and FcRn. Intranasal immunization of mice with S-Fc and CpG significantly induced antibody responses compared to the vaccination with S alone or PBS. Furthermore, we intranasally immunized mice or hamsters with S-Fc. A significant reduction of virus replication in nasal turbinate, lung, and brain was observed following nasal challenges with SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Intranasal immunization also significantly reduced viral airborne transmission in hamsters. Nasal IgA, neutralizing antibodies, lung-resident memory T cells, and bone-marrow S-specific plasma cells mediated protection. Hence, FcRn delivers an S-Fc antigen effectively into the airway and induces protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhong Li
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Arunraj M Rajendrakumar
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Gyanada Acharya
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Zizhen Miao
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Berin P Varghese
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Hailiang Yu
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Bibek Dhakal
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Athira Karunakaran
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Wenbin Tuo
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Xiaoping Zhu
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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Li W, Wang T, Rajendrakumar AM, Acharya G, Miao Z, Varghese BP, Yu H, Dhakal B, LeRoith T, Tuo W, Zhu X. An FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. bioRxiv 2022:2022.11.23.517678. [PMID: 36451890 PMCID: PMC9709799 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.23.517678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its variants cause COVID-19, which is primarily transmitted through droplets and airborne aerosols. To prevent viral infection and reduce viral spread, vaccine strategies must elicit protective immunity in the airways. FcRn transfers IgG across epithelial barriers; we explore FcRn-mediated respiratory delivery of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S). A monomeric IgG Fc was fused to a stabilized S protein; the resulting S-Fc bound to S-specific antibodies (Ab) and FcRn. A significant increase in Ab responses was observed following the intranasal immunization of mice with S-Fc formulated in CpG as compared to the immunization with S alone or PBS. Furthermore, we intranasally immunize adult or aged mice and hamsters with S-Fc. A significant reduction of virus replication in nasal turbinate, lung, and brain was observed following nasal challenges with SARS-CoV-2, including Delta and Omicron variants. Intranasal immunization also significantly reduced viral transmission between immunized and naive hamsters. Protection was mediated by nasal IgA, serum-neutralizing Abs, tissue-resident memory T cells, and bone marrow S-specific plasma cells. Hence FcRn delivers an S-Fc antigen effectively into the airway and induces protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. Based on these findings, FcRn-targeted non-invasive respiratory immunizations are superior strategies for preventing highly contagious respiratory viruses from spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhong Li
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Tao Wang
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Arunraj M. Rajendrakumar
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Gyanada Acharya
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Zizhen Miao
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Berin P. Varghese
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Hailiang Yu
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Bibek Dhakal
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Wenbin Tuo
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Xiaoping Zhu
- Division of Immunology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, *Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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