A decavalent composite mRNA vaccine against both influenza and COVID-19

Yang Wang; Qinhai Ma; Man Li; Qianyi Mai; Lin Ma; Hong Zhang; Huiling Zhong; Kailin Mai; Nan Cheng; Pei Feng; Peikun Guan; Shengzhen Wu; Lu Zhang; Jun Dai; Biliang Zhang; Weiqi Pan; Zifeng Yang

doi:10.1128/mbio.00668-24

mBio (Sep 2024)

A decavalent composite mRNA vaccine against both influenza and COVID-19

Yang Wang,
Qinhai Ma,
Man Li,
Qianyi Mai,
Lin Ma,
Hong Zhang,
Huiling Zhong,
Kailin Mai,
Nan Cheng,
Pei Feng,
Peikun Guan,
Shengzhen Wu,
Lu Zhang,
Jun Dai,
Biliang Zhang,
Weiqi Pan,
Zifeng Yang

Affiliations

Yang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Qinhai Ma: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Man Li: Argorna Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
Qianyi Mai: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Lin Ma: Guangzhou RiboBio Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
Hong Zhang: Argorna Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
Huiling Zhong: Argorna Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
Kailin Mai: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Nan Cheng: Guangzhou RiboBio Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
Pei Feng: Respiratory Disease AI Laboratory on Epidemic and Medical Big Data Instrument Applications, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
Peikun Guan: Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
Shengzhen Wu: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Lu Zhang: Technology Centre, Guangzhou Customs, Guangzhou, China
Jun Dai: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Biliang Zhang: Argorna Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
Weiqi Pan: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Zifeng Yang: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00668-24
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 9

Abstract

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ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has had a persistent and significant impact on global public health for 4 years. Recently, there has been a resurgence of seasonal influenza transmission worldwide. The co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza viruses results in a dual burden on communities. Additionally, the pandemic potential of zoonotic influenza viruses, such as avian Influenza A/H5N1 and A/H7N9, remains a concern. Therefore, a combined vaccine against all these respiratory diseases is in urgent need. mRNA vaccines, with their superior efficacy, speed in development, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, offer a promising solution for such infectious diseases and potential future pandemics. In this study, we present FLUCOV-10, a novel 10-valent mRNA vaccine created from our proven platform. This vaccine encodes hemagglutinin (HA) proteins from four seasonal influenza viruses and two avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential, as well as spike proteins from four SARS-CoV-2 variants. A two-dose immunization with the FLUCOV-10 elicited robust immune responses in mice, producing IgG antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and antigen-specific cellular immune responses against all the vaccine-matched viruses of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, the FLUCOV-10 immunization provided complete protection in mouse models against both homologous and heterologous strains of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. These results highlight the potential of FLUCOV-10 as an effective vaccine candidate for the prevention of influenza and COVID-19.IMPORTANCEAmidst the ongoing and emerging respiratory viral threats, particularly the concurrent and sequential spread of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, our research introduces FLUCOV-10. This novel mRNA-based combination vaccine, designed to counteract both influenza and COVID-19, by incorporating genes for surface glycoproteins from various influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants. This combination vaccine was highly effective in preclinical trials, generating strong immune responses and ensuring protection against both matching and heterologous strains of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. FLUCOV-10 represents a significant step forward in our ability to address respiratory viral threats, showcasing potential as a singular, adaptable vaccine solution for global health challenges.

Published in mBio

ISSN: 2161-2129 (Print); 2150-7511 (Online)
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://journals.asm.org/journal/mbio

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