Protective immunity induced by an inhaled SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine.

ABSTRACT: Targeting the site of infection is a promising strategy for improving vaccine effectivity. To date, licensed COVID-19 vaccines have been administered intramuscularly despite the fact that SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus. Here, we aim to induce local protective mucosal immune responses with an inhaled subunit vaccine candidate, ISR52, based on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein. When tested in a lethal challenge hACE2 transgenic SARS-CoV-2 mouse model, intranasal and intratracheal administration of ISR52 provided superior protection against severe infection, compared to the subcutaneous injection of the vaccine. Interestingly for a protein-based vaccine, inhaled ISR52 elicited both CD4 and CD8 T-cell Spike-specific responses that were maintained for at least 6 months in wild-type mice. Induc

SUBMITTER: Elder E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10242152 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature