Designing a SARS-CoV-2 T-Cell-Inducing Vaccine for High-Risk Patient Groups
Hans-Georg Rammensee,
Cécile Gouttefangeas,
Sonja Heidu,
Reinhild Klein,
Beate Preuß,
Juliane Sarah Walz,
Annika Nelde,
Sebastian P. Haen,
Michael Reth,
Jianying Yang,
Ghazaleh Tabatabai,
Hans Bösmüller,
Helen Hoffmann,
Michael Schindler,
Oliver Planz,
Karl-Heinz Wiesmüller,
Markus W. Löffler
Affiliations
Hans-Georg Rammensee
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Cécile Gouttefangeas
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Sonja Heidu
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Reinhild Klein
Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Beate Preuß
Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Juliane Sarah Walz
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Annika Nelde
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Sebastian P. Haen
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Michael Reth
Signaling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, Institute of Biology III, Department of Molecular Immunology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Jianying Yang
Signaling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, Institute of Biology III, Department of Molecular Immunology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Ghazaleh Tabatabai
German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Hans Bösmüller
Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Liebermeisterstr. 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Helen Hoffmann
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Michael Schindler
Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Oliver Planz
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Karl-Heinz Wiesmüller
EMC microcollections GmbH, Sindelfinger Str. 3, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
Markus W. Löffler
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
We describe the results of two vaccinations of a self-experimenting healthy volunteer with SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides performed in March and April 2020, respectively. The first set of peptides contained eight peptides predicted to bind to the individual’s HLA molecules. The second set consisted of ten peptides predicted to bind promiscuously to several HLA-DR allotypes. The vaccine formulation contained the new TLR 1/2 agonist XS15 and was administered as an emulsion in Montanide as a single subcutaneous injection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from blood drawn before and after vaccinations were assessed using Interferon-γ ELISpot assays and intracellular cytokine staining. We detected vaccine-induced CD4 T cell responses against six out of 11 peptides predicted to bind to HLA-DR after 19 days, following vaccination, for one peptide already at day 12. We used these results to support the design of a T-cell-inducing vaccine for application in high-risk patients, with weakened lymphocyte performance. Meanwhile, an according vaccine, incorporating T cell epitopes predominant in convalescents, is undergoing clinical trial testing.
