A protein vaccine with Alum/c-GAMP/poly(I:C) rapidly boosts robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern

Chem Commun (Camb). 2022 Mar 22;58(24):3925-3928. doi: 10.1039/d2cc00271j.

Abstract

Adjuvants are important components in vaccines to increase the immunogenicity of proteins and induce optimal immunity. In this study, we designed a novel ternary adjuvant system Alum + c-GAMP + poly(I:C) with STING agonist 3,3'-c-GAMP (c-GAMP) and TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) co-adsorbed on the conventional adjuvant aluminum gel (Alum), and further constructed an S1 protein vaccine. Two doses of vaccination with the ternary adjuvant vaccine were sufficient to induce a balanced Th1/Th2 immune response and robust humoral and cellular immunity. Additionally, the ternary adjuvant group had effective neutralizing activity against live virus SARS-CoV-2 and pseudovirus of all variants of concern (alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron). These results indicate that the ternary adjuvants have a significant synergistic effect and can rapidly trigger potent immune responses; the combination of the ternary adjuvant system with S1 protein is a promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Alum Compounds
  • Aluminum
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / pharmacology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Poly I
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Alum Compounds
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Poly I
  • aluminum sulfate
  • Aluminum