TY - JOUR
T1 - Combination of Recombinant Proteins S1/N and RBD/N as Potential Vaccine Candidates
AU - Mendoza-Ramírez, Noe Juvenal
AU - García-Cordero, Julio
AU - Martínez-Frías, Sandra Paola
AU - Roa-Velázquez, Daniela
AU - Luria-Pérez, Rosendo
AU - Bustos-Arriaga, José
AU - Hernández-Lopez, Jesús
AU - Cabello-Gutiérrez, Carlos
AU - Zúñiga-Ramos, Joaquín Alejandro
AU - Morales-Ríos, Edgar
AU - Pérez-Tapia, Sonia Mayra
AU - Espinosa-Cantellano, Martha
AU - Cedillo-Barrón, Leticia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Despite all successful efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, the need to evaluate alternative antigens to produce next-generation vaccines is imperative to target emerging variants. Thus, the second generation of COVID-19 vaccines employ more than one antigen from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to induce an effective and lasting immune response. Here, we analyzed the combination of two SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens that could elicit a more durable immune response in both T- and B-cells. The nucleocapsid (N) protein, Spike protein S1 domain, and receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike surface glycoproteins were expressed and purified in a mammalian expression system, taking into consideration the posttranscriptional modifications and structural characteristics. The immunogenicity of these combined proteins was evaluated in a murine model. Immunization combining S1 or RBD with the N protein induced higher levels of IgG antibodies, increased the percentage of neutralization, and elevated the production of cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 compared to the administration of a single antigen. Furthermore, sera from immunized mice recognized alpha and beta variants of SARS-CoV-2, which supports ongoing clinical results on partial protection in vaccinated populations, despite mutations. This study identifies potential antigens for second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.
AB - Despite all successful efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, the need to evaluate alternative antigens to produce next-generation vaccines is imperative to target emerging variants. Thus, the second generation of COVID-19 vaccines employ more than one antigen from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to induce an effective and lasting immune response. Here, we analyzed the combination of two SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens that could elicit a more durable immune response in both T- and B-cells. The nucleocapsid (N) protein, Spike protein S1 domain, and receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike surface glycoproteins were expressed and purified in a mammalian expression system, taking into consideration the posttranscriptional modifications and structural characteristics. The immunogenicity of these combined proteins was evaluated in a murine model. Immunization combining S1 or RBD with the N protein induced higher levels of IgG antibodies, increased the percentage of neutralization, and elevated the production of cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 compared to the administration of a single antigen. Furthermore, sera from immunized mice recognized alpha and beta variants of SARS-CoV-2, which supports ongoing clinical results on partial protection in vaccinated populations, despite mutations. This study identifies potential antigens for second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.
KW - RBD domain
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - nucleocapsid protein
KW - spike protein
KW - vaccine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153735544&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines11040864
DO - 10.3390/vaccines11040864
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 37112776
AN - SCOPUS:85153735544
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 11
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 4
M1 - 864
ER -