Scientific publications
Preclinical evaluation of a synthetic peptide vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 inducing multiepitopic and cross-reactive humoral neutralizing and cellular CD4 and CD8 responses. Scientific Publication
Belén Aparicio 1 2 3 , Noelia Casares 1 3 , Josune Egea 1 2 3 , Marta Ruiz 1 2 3 , Diana Llopiz 1 2 3 , Sheila Maestro 1 3 , Cristina Olagüe 1 3 , Gloria González-Aseguinolaza 1 3 , Cristian Smerdou 1 3 , Ascensión López-Díaz de Cerio 4 , Susana Inogés 4 , Felipe Prósper 4 5 , José R Yuste 4 , Francisco Carmona-Torre 4 , Gabriel Reina 4 , Juan J Lasarte 1 3 , Pablo Sarobe 1 2 3
Abstract
Identification of relevant epitopes is crucial for the development of subunit peptide vaccines inducing neutralizing and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Our aim was the characterization of epitopes in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein to generate a peptide vaccine.
Epitope mapping using a panel of 10 amino acid overlapped 15-mer peptides covering region 401-515 from RBD did not identify linear epitopes when tested with sera from infected individuals or from RBD-immunized mice. However, immunization of mice with these 15-mer peptides identified four peptides located at region 446-480 that induced antibodies recognizing the peptides and RBD/S1 proteins.
Immunization with peptide 446-480 from S protein formulated with Freund's adjuvant or with CpG oligodeoxinucleotide/Alum induced polyepitopic antibody responses in BALB/c and C56BL/6J mice, recognizing RBD (titres of 3 × 104-3 × 105, depending on the adjuvant) and displaying neutralizing capacity (80-95% inhibition capacity; p < 0.05) against SARS-CoV-2. Murine CD4 and CD8T-cell epitopes were identified in region 446-480 and vaccination experiments using HLA transgenic mice suggested the presence of multiple human T-cell epitopes.
Antibodies induced by peptide 446-480 showed broad recognition of S proteins and S-derived peptides belonging to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Importantly, vaccination with peptide 446-480 or with a cyclic version of peptide 446-488 containing a disulphide bridge between cysteines 480 and 488, protected humanized K18-hACE2 mice from a lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2 (62.5 and 75% of protection; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). This region could be the basis for a peptide vaccine or other vaccine platforms against Covid-19.
CITATION Emerg Microbes Infect. 2021 Dec;10(1):1931-1946. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1978823
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