New generation plasmid DNA vaccines may be a safe, fast and simple emergency vaccine platform for preparedness against emerging viral pathogens. Applying platform optimization strategies, we tested the pre-clinical immunogenicity and protective effect of a candidate DNA plasmid vaccine specific for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The DNA vaccine induced spike-specific binding IgG and neutralizing antibodies in mice, rabbits, and rhesus macaques together with robust Th1 dominant cellular responses in small animals. Intradermal and intramuscular needle-free administration of the DNA vaccine yielded comparable immune responses. In a vaccination-challenge study of rhesus macaques, the vaccine demonstrated protection from viral replication in the lungs following intranasal and intratracheal inoculation with SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, the candidate plasmid DNA vaccine encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is immunogenic in different models and confers protection against lung infection in nonhuman primates. Further evaluation of this DNA vaccine candidate in clinical trials is warranted.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, DNA vaccines, 【초록키워드】 neutralizing antibody, IgG, Vaccine, coronavirus, clinical trial, Th1, lung, Lung infection, Spike protein, mice, viral replication, immune responses, vaccine platform, platform, DNA vaccine, intranasal, protective effect, intramuscular, binding, Intradermal, rhesus macaques, cellular response, rhesus macaque, administration, Plasmid, Safe, acute respiratory syndrome, immunogenic, viral pathogens, dominant, DNA plasmid, robust, tested, demonstrated, comparable, the vaccine, New, Applying, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 DNA vaccine, Plasmid, Preclinical,