Elsevier

Vaccine

Volume 39, Issue 35, 16 August 2021, Pages 4988-5001
Vaccine

An enveloped virus-like particle vaccine expressing a stabilized prefusion form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits highly potent immunity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.034Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • VBI-2902a is a VLP-based vaccine candidate against SARS-COV-2.

  • VBI-2902a contains VLPs pseudotyped with a modified prefusion SARS-COV-2 S in Alum.

  • VBI-2902a induces robust neutralization antibody responses against SARS-COV-2 S.

  • VBI-2902a protects hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 induced lung inflammation.

  • A single dose of VBI-2902a provides protective benefit in hamsters.

Abstract

We evaluated enveloped virus-like particles (eVLPs) expressing various forms of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein and several adjuvants in an effort to identify a highly potent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate. eVLPs expressing a modified prefusion form of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were selected as they induced high antibody binding titers and neutralizing activity after a single injection in mice. Formulation of SARS-CoV-2 S eVLPs with aluminum phosphate resulted in balanced induction of IgG2 and IgG1 isotypes and antibody binding and neutralization titers were undiminished for more than 3 months after a single immunization. A single dose of this candidate, named VBI-2902a, protected Syrian golden hamsters from challenge with SARS-CoV-2 and supports the on-going clinical evaluation of VBI-2902a as a highly potent vaccine against COVID-19.

Keywords

SARS-COV-2
Vaccine
Virus-like-particles
Immunogenicity
Neutralizing antibodies

Abbreviations

eVLP
enveloped virus-like particules
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome- coronavirus-2
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019
SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
MERS
Middle East respiratory syndrome
RBD
receptor binding domain
TM-CTD
transmembrane cytoplasmic terminal domain
Ab
antibody
nAb
neutralizing antibody
MLV
murine leukemia virus
ELISA
enzyme-linked-immuno-sorbent-assay
PRNT
plaque reduction neutralization test
EPT
end-point titer
Alum
aluminum
ELISPOT
Enzyme Linked ImmunoSpot Test
IP
Intraperitoneal
IM
Intramuscular
NRC
National Research Council Canada
VIDO
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization

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1

These authors contributed equally to this work.