Title
A variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccine targeting HR1 domain in S2 subunit of spike protein
Author
Wei Pang, Ying Lu, Yan-Bo Zhao, Fan Shen, Chang-Fa Fan, Qian Wang, Wen-Qiang He, Xiao-Yan He, Ze-Kai Li, Tao-Tao Chen, Cui-Xian Yang, You-Zhi Li, Si-Xuan Xiao, Zu-Jiang Zhao, Xu-Sheng Huang, Rong-Hua Luo, Liu-Meng Yang, Mi Zhang, Xing-Qi Dong, Ming-Hua Li, Xiao-Li Feng, Qing-Cui Zhou, Wang Qu, Shibo Jiang, Songying Ouyang & Yong-Tang Zheng
Year
2022
Journal
Cell research
Abstract
The emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, commonly with many mutations in S1 subunit of spike (S) protein are weakening the efficacy of the current vaccines and antibody therapeutics. This calls for the variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccines targeting the more conserved regions in S protein. Here, we designed a recombinant subunit vaccine, HR121, targeting the conserved HR1 domain in S2 subunit of S protein. HR121 consisting of HR1–linker1–HR2–linker2–HR1, is conformationally and functionally analogous to the HR1 domain present in the fusion intermediate conformation of S2 subunit. Immunization with HR121 in rabbits and rhesus macaques elicited highly potent cross-neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, particularly Omicron sublineages. Vaccination with HR121 achieved near-full protections against prototype SARS-CoV-2 infection in hACE2 transgenic mice, Syrian golden hamsters and rhesus macaques, and effective protection against Omicron BA.2 infection in Syrian golden hamsters. This study demonstrates that HR121 is a promising candidate of variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with a novel conserved target in the S2 subunit for application against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Full Article
Instrument
J-815
Keywords
SARS-Cov-2, HR121, spike protein