Frontiers in Immunology (Jul 2022)

Immunogenicity of a vaccinia virus-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine candidate

  • Shan Mei,
  • Zhangling Fan,
  • Xiaoman Liu,
  • Fei Zhao,
  • Yu Huang,
  • Liang Wei,
  • Yamei Hu,
  • Yu Xie,
  • Liming Wang,
  • Bin Ai,
  • Chen Liang,
  • Fengwen Xu,
  • Fei Guo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.911164
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines provide essential tools for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of technologies have been employed to develop SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, including the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 particles, mRNA to express viral spike protein, recombinant spike proteins, and viral vectors. Here, we report the use of the vaccinia virus Tiantan strain as a vector to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When it was used to inoculate mice, robust SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific antibody response and T-cell response were detected. Sera from the vaccinated mice showed strong neutralizing activity against the ancestral Wuhan SARS-CoV-2, the variants of concern (VOCs) B.1.351, B.1.617.2, and the emerging B.1.1.529 (omicron). This finding supports the possibility of developing a new type of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the vaccinia virus vector.

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