A SARS-CoV-2 Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle Vaccine is Protective and Promotes a Strong Immunological Response in the Cynomolgus Macaque Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Model

• Published in: bioRxiv
• Main Authors: Johnston, Sara C, Ricks, Keersten M, Lakhal-Naouar, Ines, Jay, Alexandra, Subra, Caroline, Raymond, Jo Lynne, King, Hannah A D, Rossi, Franco, Clements, Tamara L, Fetterer, David, Tostenson, Samantha, Camila Macedo Cincotta, Hack, Holly R, Kuklis, Caitlin, Soman, Sandrine, King, Jocelyn, Peachman, Kristina K, Kim, Dohoon, Wei-Hung, Chen, Sankhala, Rajeshwer S, Martinez, Elizabeth J, Hajduczki, Agnes, Chang, William C, Choe, Misook, Thomas, Paul V, Peterson, Caroline E, Anderson, Alexander, Swafford, Isabella, Currier, Jeffrey R, Paquin-Proulx, Dominic, Jagodzinski, Linda L, Matyas, Gary R, Rao, Mangala, Gromowski, Gregory D, Peel, Sheila A, White, Lauren, Smith, Jeffrey M, Hooper, Jay W, Michael, Nelson L L, Modjarrad, Kayvon, M Gordon Joyce, Nalca, Aysegul, Bolton, Diane L, Pitt, Margaret Lm
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 28.03.2022
• Subjects: Aluminum hydroxide; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Dosage; Ferritin; Fusion protein; Immune response; Immunogenicity; Nanoparticles; Pandemics; Public health; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike protein; Trimers; Vaccination; Vaccine development; Vaccines
• DOI: 10.1101/2022.03.25.485832

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a staggering impact on social, economic, and public health systems worldwide. Vaccine development and mobilization against SARS-CoV-2 (the etiologic agent of COVID-19) has been rapid. However, novel strategies are still necessary to slow the pandemic, and this includes new approaches to vaccine development and/or delivery, which improve vaccination compliance and demonstrate efficacy against emerging variants. Here we report on the immunogenicity and efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine comprised of stabilized, pre-fusion Spike protein trimers displayed on a ferritin nanoparticle (SpFN) adjuvanted with either conventional aluminum hydroxide or the Army Liposomal Formulation QS-21 (ALFQ) in a cynomolgus macaque COVID-19 model. Vaccination resulted in robust cell-mediated and humoral responses and a significant reduction of lung lesions following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The strength of the immune response suggests that dose sparing through reduced or single dosing in primates may be possible with this vaccine. Overall, the data support further evaluation of SpFN as a SARS-CoV-2 protein-based vaccine candidate with attention to fractional dosing and schedule optimization. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.