The COVID-19 pandemic has currently created an unprecedented threat to human society and global health. A rapid mass vaccination to create herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is a crucial measure to ease the spread of this disease. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine candidate, a SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein encapsulated in N , N , N -trimethyl chitosan particles or S-TMC NPs. Upon intraperitoneal immunization, S-TMC NP-immunized mice elicited a stronger systemic antibody response, with neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2, than mice receiving the soluble form of S-glycoprotein. S-TMC NPs were able to stimulate the circulating IgG and IgA as found in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. In addition, spike-specific T cell responses were drastically activated in S-TMC NP-immunized mice. Surprisingly, administration of S-TMC NPs via the intraperitoneal route also stimulated SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses in the respiratory tract, which were demonstrated by the presence of high levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA in the lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavages of the immunized mice. We found that peritoneal immunization with spike nanospheres stimulates both systemic and respiratory mucosal immunity.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19 vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, adjuvant delivery particles, peritoneal immunization, mucosal immunity, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IgG, vaccination, immunogenicity, Immunity, COVID-19 pandemic, Antibody Response, spike glycoprotein, immunization, Particle, global health, Spread, T cell, Health, mice, IgA, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, herd immunity, immune responses, response, vaccine candidate, Subunit vaccine, neutralizing capacity, respiratory tract, respiratory, disease, chitosan, mucosal, Bronchoalveolar lavage, administration, mass vaccination, subunit, circulating, SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG, SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, immunized mice, lung homogenates, SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses, stimulated, addition, investigated, receiving, activated, demonstrated, elicited, stimulate, lung homogenate, SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response, spike-specific T cell, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, response, systemic, System, tract,