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Immunogenicity and in vivo protective effects of recombinant nucleocapsid-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Convacell®
  • +18
  • Sevastyan O. Rabdano,
  • Ellina Ruzanova,
  • Iuliia Pletiukhina,
  • Nikita Savelev,
  • Kirill L. Kryshen,
  • Anastasiia E. Katelnikova,
  • Petr P. Beltyukov,
  • Liliya N. Fakhretdinova,
  • Ariana Safi,
  • German O. Rudakov,
  • Sergei A. Arakelov,
  • Igor V. Andreev,
  • Ilya A. Kofiadi,
  • Musa Khaitov,
  • Rudolf Valenta,
  • Daria Kruchko,
  • Igor Berzin ,
  • Natalia S. Belozerova,
  • Anatoly E. Evtushenko,
  • Victor Trukhin,
  • Veronica Skvortsova
Sevastyan O. Rabdano
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii

Corresponding Author:sevastyan@rabdano.ru

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Ellina Ruzanova
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Iuliia Pletiukhina
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Nikita Savelev
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Kirill L. Kryshen
RMC “Home of pharmacy“ JSC
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Anastasiia E. Katelnikova
RMC “Home of pharmacy“ JSC
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Petr P. Beltyukov
FGUP Naucno-issledovatel'skij institut gigieny profpatologii i ekologii celoveka Federal'nogo mediko-biologiceskogo agentstva Rossii
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Liliya N. Fakhretdinova
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Ariana Safi
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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German O. Rudakov
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Sergei A. Arakelov
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Igor V. Andreev
FGBU Gosudarstvennyj naucnyj centr Institut immunologii Federal'nogo mediko-biologiceskogo agentstva Rossii
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Ilya A. Kofiadi
FGBU Gosudarstvennyj naucnyj centr Institut immunologii Federal'nogo mediko-biologiceskogo agentstva Rossii
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Musa Khaitov
FGBU Gosudarstvennyj naucnyj centr Institut immunologii Federal'nogo mediko-biologiceskogo agentstva Rossii
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Rudolf Valenta
FGBU Gosudarstvennyj naucnyj centr Institut immunologii Federal'nogo mediko-biologiceskogo agentstva Rossii
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Daria Kruchko
Federal'noe mediko-biologiceskoe agentstvo Rossii
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Igor Berzin
Federal'noe mediko-biologiceskoe agentstvo Rossii
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Natalia S. Belozerova
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Anatoly E. Evtushenko
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Victor Trukhin
FGUP Sankt-Peterburgskij naucno-issledovatel'skij institut vakcin i syvorotok i predpriatie po proizvodstvu bakterijnyh preparatov FMBA Rossii
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Veronica Skvortsova
Federal'noe mediko-biologiceskoe agentstvo Rossii
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Abstract

Background The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines which are licensed or under development focus on the spike (S) protein and its receptor binding domain (RBD). However, S and RBD from SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns show considerable sequence variations and repeated injections for boosting specific immunity are necessary. Aim of this study was to develop and characterize a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine targeting the highly conserved nucleocapsid (N) protein. Methods Recombinant N protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity by chromatography and characterized by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. The N protein vaccine was obtained by formulation of recombinant N as squalane-based emulsion and used to immunize Balb/c mice, NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice engrafted with human PBMC, rabbits and marmoset monkeys to study safety as well as antibody and cellular immunity using ELISA for antibodies, measurement of N-specific Th1 and Th2 cytokine secretion and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution assays for CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses. The protective effect of the vaccine was studied in SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamsters. Results Immunization of mice, rabbits and Syrian hamsters with the recombinant N protein-based vaccine formulated as squalane-based emulsion (Convacell®) induced sustainable N-specific IgG responses and a N-specific mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine response. In marmoset monkeys a N-specific CD4 + as well as CD8 + T cell response was observed. Vaccinated and then infected Syrian hamsters showed reduced lung histopathology, reduced virus was detected in lung tissue, lung weight relative to the body was not increased after challenge and body weight was regained faster than in non-vaccinated animals. Repeated dose toxicity studies in mice and rabbits showed that Convacell® was well tolerated and safe. Conclusions Convacell® induced a SARS-CoV-2-specific protective immune response in Syrian hamsters. It is a new vaccine targeting the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 and thus may augment the armamentarium of vaccines for COVID-19.