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A SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 RBD Heterodimer Vaccine Candidate

delete2025-05-02
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PRE
AI
R
Rong Zhang
D
Dedong Li
P
Pengyue Gao
W
Wenjing Ruan
S
Shitong Qiao
S
Senyu Xu
L
Lianpan Dai
T
Tingrong Luo
X
Xin Zhao
G
George F. Gao *
DOI:10.1002/jmv.70367delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 through accumulating mutations, combined with the persistent risk of zoonotic sarbecovirus transmission events, highlights the critical demand for broadly protective vaccines. Building on our previous findings that a heterodimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) design substantially improves cross-reactive immunogenicity in vaccine candidates, we propose this strategy as a foundation for developing pan-sarbecovirus vaccines with cross-neutralizing capacity against diverse and emerging variants. In this study, we developed a sarbecovirus immunogen, utilizing a heterodimeric strategy incorporating the RBDs from both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Pseudovirus neutralization assays revealed that mice immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 prototype (PT)-SARS-CoV heterodimer (PT-SARS) developed 39.9- to 305.6-fold higher neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers against SARS-CoV-2 sub-variants compared to the SARS-CoV RBD homodimer (SARS-SARS). Furthermore, PT-SARS elicited 17.6- and 31.2-fold enhanced neutralization against WIV1 and SARS-CoV, respectively, relative to the SARS-CoV-2 PT homodimer (PT-PT). To address evolving Omicron sub-variants, we further updated BA.1-SARS and BA.2-SARS immunogens. Notably, BA.2-SARS exhibited a 6.2-fold increase in neutralizing potency against BA.2.86 compared to PT-SARS. Crucially, the heterodimeric immunogen induced balanced and broadly reactive NAbs against multiple sarbecoviruses, including RaTG13, Pangolin GD, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 variants/sub-variants, demonstrating its potential as a sarbecovirus immunogen candidate.
Keywords:
broad-spectrum
heterodimer
RBD
sarbecovirus
SARS-CoV
SARS-CoV-2
vaccine

Journal

Journal of Medical Virology cover
Journal of Medical Virology
IF:
4.6
Papers:
1.1W
Citations:
2.0W

Organization

B
Beijing Life Sci Acad
Scholars:
62
Papers: 46
Citations: 21
G
guangxi univ gxu
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
U
Univ Sci and Technol China USTC
Scholars:
134
Papers: 39
Citations: 10
C
chinese acad sci
Scholars:
1.8W
Papers: 1.1W
Citations: 4.6K
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