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Kuczkowska K, Bjerkan L, Stubsrud E, Husbyn HC, Chellappa S, Hauge A, Skarshaug R, Torgersen ML, Heim JB, Jørgensen MJ, Wold CW, Schleimann MH, Tolstrup M, Granum S, Fredriksen AB, Pedersen MW, Norheim G. A novel SARS-CoV-2 Beta RBD DNA vaccine directly targeted to antigen-presenting cells induces strong humoral and T cell responses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18902. [PMID: 37919366 PMCID: PMC10622562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46223-8] [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: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several variants of concern (VoC) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have evolved, affecting the efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. To address the need for vaccines that induce strong and persistent cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, we developed a prophylactic SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate based on our easily and rapidly adaptable plasmid DNA vaccine platform. The vaccine candidate, referred to here as VB2129, encodes a protein homodimer consisting of the receptor binding domain (RBD) from lineage B.1.351 (Beta) of SARS-CoV-2, a VoC with a severe immune profile, linked to a targeting unit (human LD78β/CCL3L1) that binds chemokine receptors on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and a dimerization unit (derived from the hinge and CH3 exons of human IgG3). Immunogenicity studies in mice demonstrated that the APC-targeted vaccine induced strong antibody responses to both homologous Beta RBD and heterologous RBDs derived from Wuhan, Alpha, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron BA.1 variants, as well as cross-neutralizing antibodies against these VoC. Overall, preclinical data justify the exploration of VB2129 as a potential booster vaccine that induces broader antibody- and T cell-based protection against current and future SARS-CoV-2 VoC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kuczkowska
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Louise Bjerkan
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Stubsrud
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Stalin Chellappa
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
- Veterinærinstituttet, Elizabeth Stephansens Vei 1, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - Anette Hauge
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Renate Skarshaug
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Joel Benjamin Heim
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Mariane Høgsbjerg Schleimann
- Department of Clinical Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 45, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 45, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Stine Granum
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Gunnstein Norheim
- Nykode Therapeutics AS, Oslo Research Park, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
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