Intradermal Immunization of SARS-CoV-2 Original Strain Trimeric Spike Protein Associated to CpG and AddaS03 Adjuvants, but Not MPL, Provide Strong Humoral and Cellular Response in Mice
Luan Firmino-Cruz,
Júlio Souza dos-Santos,
Alessandra Marcia da Fonseca-Martins,
Diogo Oliveira-Maciel,
Gustavo Guadagnini-Perez,
Victor A. Roncaglia-Pereira,
Carlos H. Dumard,
Francisca H. Guedes-da-Silva,
Ana C. Vicente Santos,
Renata G. F. Alvim,
Tulio M. Lima,
Federico F. Marsili,
Daniel P. B. Abreu,
Bartira Rossi-Bergmann,
Andre M. Vale,
Alessandra D’Almeida Filardy,
Jerson Lima Silva,
Andrea Cheble de Oliveira,
Andre M. O. Gomes,
Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes
Affiliations
Luan Firmino-Cruz
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Júlio Souza dos-Santos
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Alessandra Marcia da Fonseca-Martins
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Diogo Oliveira-Maciel
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Gustavo Guadagnini-Perez
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Victor A. Roncaglia-Pereira
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Carlos H. Dumard
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Francisca H. Guedes-da-Silva
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Ana C. Vicente Santos
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Renata G. F. Alvim
Cell Culture Engineering Lab., COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil
Tulio M. Lima
Cell Culture Engineering Lab., COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil
Federico F. Marsili
Cell Culture Engineering Lab., COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil
Daniel P. B. Abreu
Cell Culture Engineering Lab., COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil
Bartira Rossi-Bergmann
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Andre M. Vale
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Alessandra D’Almeida Filardy
Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Goes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Jerson Lima Silva
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Andrea Cheble de Oliveira
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Andre M. O. Gomes
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes
Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
Despite the intramuscular route being the most used vaccination strategy against SARS-CoV-2, the intradermal route has been studied around the globe as a strong candidate for immunization against SARS-CoV-2. Adjuvants have shown to be essential vaccine components that are capable of driving robust immune responses and increasing the vaccination efficacy. In this work, our group aimed to develop a vaccination strategy for SARS-CoV-2 using a trimeric spike protein, by testing the best route with formulations containing the adjuvants AddaS03, CpG, MPL, Alum, or a combination of two of them. Our results showed that formulations that were made with AddaS03 or CpG alone or AddaS03 combined with CpG were able to induce high levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a; high titers of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 original strain; and also induced high hypersensitivity during the challenge with Spike protein and a high level of IFN-γ producing CD4+ T-cells in mice. Altogether, those data indicate that AddaS03, CpG, or both combined may be used as adjuvants in vaccines for COVID-19.
