Co-immunization with spike and nucleocapsid based DNA vaccines for long-term protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron.

ABSTRACT: The continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants challenges the durability of existing spike (S)-based COVID-19 vaccines. We hypothesized that vaccines composed of both S and nucleocapsid (N) antigens would increase the durability of protection by strengthening and broadening cellular immunity compared with S-based vaccines. To test this, we examined the immunogenicity and efficacy of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 S- and N-based DNA vaccines administered individually or together to K18-hACE2 mice. S, N, and S + N vaccines all elicited polyfunctional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses and provided short-term cross-protection against Beta and Omicron BA.2 variants, but only co-immunization with S + N vaccines provided long-term protection against Omicron BA.2. Depletion of CD4^+<

SUBMITTER: Pinto PBA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11659323 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature