Cowpea Mosaic Virus Nanoparticle Vaccine Candidates Displaying Peptide Epitopes Can Neutralize the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

• DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00410
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21T16:10:46Z
• Authors: Oscar A. Ortega-R...; Sourabh Shukla; Matthew D. Shin; Angela Chen; Veronique Beiss; Miguel A. Moreno-...; Yi Zheng; Alex E. Clark; Aaron F. Carlin; Jonathan K. Pokorski; Nicole F. Steinmetz
• Keywords: Cowpea mosaic virus; Coronavirus

The development of vaccines against coronaviruses has focused on the spike (S) protein, which is required for recognition host-cell receptors and thus elicits neutralizing antibodies. Targeting conserved epitopes S protein offers potential pan-beta-coronavirus that could prevent future pandemics. We displayed five B-cell epitopes, originally identified in convalescent sera from recovered severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients, surface cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) evaluated these formulations as vaccines. Prime-boost immunization mice with three candidate vaccines, CPMV-988, CPMV-1173, CPMV-1209, elicited high antibody titers neutralized coronavirus (SARS-CoV) vitro showed an early Th1-biased profile (2–4 weeks) transitioning to a slightly Th2-biased just after second boost (6 weeks). A pentavalent slow-release implant comprising all peptides CPMV anti-S epitope-specific titers, albeit at lower magnitude compared soluble formulations. While remained intact when released PLGA implants, processing results loss RNA, acts adjuvant. Loss RNA may be reason efficacy implants. Finally, although (988, 1173, 1209) were found SARS-CoV 100% identical SARS-CoV-2, none vaccine candidates SARS-CoV-2 suggesting differences natural epitope perhaps caused by conformational changes or presence N-linked glycans. cross-protective was not developed, multivalent SARS developed. technology discussed here versatile vaccination platform can pivoted toward other diseases applications are limited infectious diseases.