Frontiers in Immunology (Dec 2021)
A Highly Conserved Peptide Vaccine Candidate Activates Both Humoral and Cellular Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 Variant Strains
- Fengxia Gao,
- Fengxia Gao,
- Jingjing Huang,
- Jingjing Huang,
- Tingting Li,
- Tingting Li,
- Chao Hu,
- Chao Hu,
- Meiying Shen,
- Song Mu,
- Song Mu,
- Feiyang Luo,
- Feiyang Luo,
- Shuyi Song,
- Shuyi Song,
- Yanan Hao,
- Yanan Hao,
- Wang Wang,
- Wang Wang,
- Xiaojian Han,
- Xiaojian Han,
- Chen Qian,
- Chen Qian,
- Yingming Wang,
- Yingming Wang,
- Ruixin Wu,
- Ruixin Wu,
- Luo Li,
- Luo Li,
- Shenglong Li,
- Shenglong Li,
- Aishun Jin,
- Aishun Jin
Affiliations
- Fengxia Gao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Fengxia Gao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jingjing Huang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jingjing Huang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Tingting Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Tingting Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chao Hu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chao Hu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Meiying Shen
- Department of Endocrine Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Song Mu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Song Mu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Feiyang Luo
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Feiyang Luo
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Shuyi Song
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Shuyi Song
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Yanan Hao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Yanan Hao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Wang Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Wang Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Xiaojian Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Xiaojian Han
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chen Qian
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chen Qian
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Yingming Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Yingming Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ruixin Wu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ruixin Wu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Luo Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Luo Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Shenglong Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Shenglong Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Aishun Jin
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Aishun Jin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.789905
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 12
Abstract
Facing the imminent need for vaccine candidates with cross-protection against globally circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutants, we present a conserved antigenic peptide RBD9.1 with both T-cell and B-cell epitopes. RBD9.1 can be recognized by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent serum, particularly for those with high neutralizing potency. Immunization with RBD9.1 can successfully induce the production of the receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibodies in Balb/c mice. Importantly, the immunized sera exhibit sustained neutralizing efficacy against multiple dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant strains, including B.1.617.2 that carries a point mutation (SL452R) within the sequence of RBD9.1. Specifically, SY451 and SY454 are identified as the key amino acids for the binding of the induced RBD-specific antibodies to RBD9.1. Furthermore, we have confirmed that the RBD9.1 antigenic peptide can induce a S448-456 (NYNYLYRLF)-specific CD8+ T-cell response. Both RBD9.1-specific B cells and the S448-456-specific T cells can still be activated more than 3 months post the last immunization. This study provides a potential vaccine candidate that can generate long-term protective efficacy over SARS-CoV-2 variants, with the unique functional mechanism of activating both humoral and cellular immunity.
Keywords
- SARS-CoV-2 variants
- RBD9.1
- vaccine
- humoral immune response
- cellular immune response
- immunological memory
