1. Capsid-like particles decorated with the SARS2-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain elicit strong virus neutralization activity
- Author
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Cyrielle Fougeoux, Louise Goksøyr, Manja Idorn, Vladislav Soroka, Sebenzile K. Myeni, Robert Dagil, Christoph M. Janitzek, Teit Søgaard, Kara-Lee Aves, Emma W. Horsted, Sayit Mahmut Erdoğan, Tobias Gustavsson, Jerzy Dorosz, Stine Clemmensen, Laurits Larsen, Susan Thrane, Elena E. Vidal-Calvo, Paul Khalifé, Thomas M. Hulen, Swati Choudhary, Michael Theisen, Susheel Singh, Asier Garcia-Senosiain, Linda Van Oosten, Gorben Pijlman, Bettina Hierzberger, Tanja Domeyer, Blanka W. Nalewajek, Anette Strøbæk, Magdalena Skrzypczak, Laura F. Andersson, Tim Dalebout, Kasper Iversen, Lene H. Harritshøj, Benjamin Mordmüller, Henrik Ullum, Line Reinert, Willem Adriaan de Jongh, Marjolein Kikkert, Soren Paludan, Thor Theander, Morten Nielsen, Ali Salanti, and Adam Sander
- Abstract
The rapid development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is a global priority. Here, we developed two capsid-like particle (CLP)-based vaccines displaying the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. RBD antigens were displayed on AP205 CLPs through a novel split-protein Tag/Catcher ensuring unidirectional and high-density display of RBD. Both soluble recombinant RBD, and RBD displayed on CLPs bound the ACE2 receptor with nanomolar affinity. Mice were vaccinated with soluble RBD or CLP-displayed RBD, formulated in Squalene-Water-Emulsion. The RBD-CLP vaccines induced higher levels of serum anti-RBD antibodies, than the soluble RBD vaccines. Remarkably, one injection with our lead RBD-CLP vaccine in mice elicited virus neutralization antibody titers comparable to those found in patients which had recovered from Covid-19. Following booster vaccinations, the virus neutralization titers exceeded those measured after natural infection, at serum dilutions above 1:10.000. Thus, the RBD-CLP vaccine is highly promising candidates for preventing COVID-19 disease.
- Published
- 2020
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