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

Vaccine. 2021 Jul 16:S0264-410X(21)00911-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.034. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTWe 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.PMID:34304928 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.034

Source: Vaccine - July 26, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Anne-Catherine Fluckiger Barthelemy Ontsouka Jasminka Bozic Abebaw Diress Tanvir Ahmed Tamara Berthoud Anh Tran Diane Duque Mingmin Liao Michael McCluskie Francisco Diaz-Mitoma David E Anderson Catalina Soare Source Type: research