Influenza Virus-like Particle-Based Hybrid Vaccine Containing RBD Induces Immunity against Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Viruses

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ramireddy Bommireddy, Emory University; Shannon Stone, Georgia State University; Noopur Bhatnagar, Georgia State University; Pratima Kumari, Georgia State University; Luis E. Munoz, Emory University; Judy Oh, Georgia State University; Ki-Hye Kim, Georgia State University; Jameson T. L. Berry, Emory University; Kristen M. Jacobsen, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Lahcen Jaafar, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Swe-Htet Naing, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Allison N. Blackerby, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Tori Van der Gaag, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Chloe N. Wright, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Lilin Lai, Emory University; Christopher D. Pack, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Sampath Ramachandiran, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Mehul Suthar, Emory University; Sang-Moo Kang, Georgia State University; Mukesh Kumar, Georgia State University; Shaker J. C. Reddy, Metaclipse Therapeut Corp; Periasamy Selvaraj, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-06-01
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10060944
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: VACCINES
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 6
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was funded by NIH/NIAID (SBIR Contract# 75N93019C00017 Amendment to Pack/Ramachandiran) and Intel Corporation for the Intel COVID-19 Global Technology Response Initiative grant. The animal study protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). IACUC protocol # 2017-00-504 (Emory University), Protocol number A20044 (Georgia State University).
• Keywords: Science & Technology; INTERLEUKIN-12; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; DENDRITIC CELLS; mice; influenza; TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS; GM-CSF; IL-12; virus-like particles; Research & Experimental Medicine; COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR; antibodies; Medicine, Research & Experimental; SARS-CoV-2; Immunology; IMMUNOGENICITY; ADJUVANTS; PROTEIN TRANSFER; RBD; SIPULEUCEL-T; IMMUNOTHERAPY
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

Several approaches have produced an effective vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since millions of people are exposed to influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, it is of great interest to develop a two-in-one vaccine that will be able to protect against infection of both viruses. We have developed a hybrid vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses using influenza virus-like particles (VLP) incorporated by protein transfer with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored SARS-CoV-2 RBD fused to GM-CSF as an adjuvant. GPI-RBD-GM-CSF fusion protein was expressed in CHO-S cells, purified and incorporated onto influenza VLPs to develop the hybrid vaccine. Our results show that the hybrid vaccine induced a strong antibody response and protected mice from both influenza virus and mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 challenges, with vaccinated mice having significantly lower lung viral titers compared to naive mice. These results suggest that a hybrid vaccine strategy is a promising approach for developing multivalent vaccines to prevent influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 infections.