DNA immunization with in silico predicted T-cell epitopes protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mice

Gry Persson; Katherine H. Restori; Julie Hincheli Emdrup; Sophie Schussek; Michael Schantz Klausen; McKayla J. Nicol; Bhuvana Katkere; Birgitte Rønø; Girish Kirimanjeswara; Anders Bundgaard Sørensen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166546

Frontiers in Immunology (Apr 2023)

DNA immunization with in silico predicted T-cell epitopes protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mice

Gry Persson,
Katherine H. Restori,
Julie Hincheli Emdrup,
Sophie Schussek,
Michael Schantz Klausen,
McKayla J. Nicol,
Bhuvana Katkere,
Birgitte Rønø,
Girish Kirimanjeswara,
Anders Bundgaard Sørensen

Affiliations

Gry Persson: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark
Katherine H. Restori: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
Julie Hincheli Emdrup: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark
Sophie Schussek: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark
Michael Schantz Klausen: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark
McKayla J. Nicol: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
Bhuvana Katkere: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
Birgitte Rønø: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark
Girish Kirimanjeswara: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
Anders Bundgaard Sørensen: Evaxion Biotech A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166546
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused significant social and economic disruption worldwide, despite highly effective vaccines being developed at an unprecedented speed. Because the first licensed vaccines target only single B-cell antigens, antigenic drift could lead to loss of efficacy against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Improving B-cell vaccines by including multiple T-cell epitopes could solve this problem. Here, we show that in silico predicted MHC class I/II ligands induce robust T-cell responses and protect against severe disease in genetically modified K18-hACE2/BL6 mice susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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