MPLA-Adjuvanted Liposomes Encapsulating S-Trimer or RBD or S1, but Not S-ECD, Elicit Robust Neutralization Against SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern

J Med Chem. 2022 Feb 24;65(4):3563-3574. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02025. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Abstract

Safe and effective vaccines are the best method to defeat worldwide SARS-CoV-2 and its circulating variants. The SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its subunits are the most attractive targets for the development of protein-based vaccines. In this study, we evaluated three lipophilic adjuvants, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), Toll-like receptor (TLR) 1/2 ligand Pam3CSK4, and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), in liposomal and nonliposomal vaccines. The immunological results showed that the MPLA-adjuvanted liposomal vaccine induced the strongest humoral and cellular immunity. Therefore, we further performed a systematic comparison of S-trimer, S-ECD, S1, and RBD as antigens in MPLA-adjuvanted liposomes and found that, although these four vaccines all induced robust specific antibody responses, only S-trimer, S1, and RBD liposomes, but not S-ECD, elicited potent neutralizing antibody responses. Moreover, RBD, S-trimer, and S1 liposomes effectively neutralized variants (B.1.1.7/alpha, B.1.351/beta, P.1/gamma, B.1.617.2/delta, and B.1.1.529/omicron). These results provide important information for the subunit vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Female
  • Lipid A / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lipid A / chemistry
  • Lipid A / immunology
  • Liposomes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Structure
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology*
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Subunit / chemistry
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Lipid A
  • Liposomes
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • monophosphoryl lipid A

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants