DNA Vaccine Administered by Cationic Lipoplexes or by In Vivo Electroporation Induces Comparable Antibody Responses against SARS-CoV-2 in Mice
Allegra Peletta,
Eakachai Prompetchara,
Kittipan Tharakhet,
Papatsara Kaewpang,
Supranee Buranapraditkun,
Teerasit Techawiwattanaboon,
Tayeb Jbilou,
Pratomporn Krangvichian,
Sunee Sirivichayakul,
Suwimon Manopwisedjaroen,
Arunee Thitithanyanont,
Kanitha Patarakul,
Kiat Ruxrungtham,
Chutitorn Ketloy,
Gerrit Borchard
Affiliations
Allegra Peletta
Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Eakachai Prompetchara
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Kittipan Tharakhet
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Papatsara Kaewpang
Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Supranee Buranapraditkun
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Teerasit Techawiwattanaboon
Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tayeb Jbilou
Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Pratomporn Krangvichian
Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Sunee Sirivichayakul
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Suwimon Manopwisedjaroen
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Arunee Thitithanyanont
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Kanitha Patarakul
Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Kiat Ruxrungtham
Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Chutitorn Ketloy
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Gerrit Borchard
Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
In view of addressing the global necessity of an effective vaccine in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a plasmid DNA vaccine, expressing for the spike (S) protein and formulated in lipoplexes, was manufactured and tested for in vitro transfection and in vivo immunogenicity. Blank cationic liposomes of 130.9 ± 5.8 nm in size and with a zeta potential of +48 ± 12 mV were formulated using the thin-film layer rehydration method. Liposomes were complexed with pCMVkan-S at different N/P ratios. Ratios of 0.25:1 and 1:1 were selected according to their complex stability and controlled size compared to other ratios and tested in vitro for transfection studies and in vivo for immunogenicity. Both selected formulations showed enhanced neutralizing antibody responses compared to pCMVkan-S injected alone, as well as an increased T cell response. The titers observed were similar to those of intramuscular electroporation (IM-EP), which was set as an efficacy goal.
