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Cutting edge: Nucleocapsid vaccine elicits spike-independent SARS-CoV-2 protective immunity

  • William E. Matchett
  • , Vineet Joag
  • , J. Michael Stolley
  • , Frances K. Shepherd
  • , Clare F. Quarnstrom
  • , Clayton K. Mickelson
  • , Sathi Wijeyesinghe
  • , Andrew G. Soerens
  • , Samuel Becker
  • , Joshua M. Thiede
  • , Eyob Weyu
  • , Stephen D. O'Flanagan
  • , Jennifer A. Walter
  • , Michelle N. Vu
  • , Vineet D. Menachery
  • , Tyler D. Bold
  • , Vaiva Vezys
  • , Marc K. Jenkins
  • , Ryan A. Langlois
  • , David Masopust

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Neutralizing Abs target the receptor binding domain of the spike (S) protein, a focus of successful vaccine efforts. Concerns have arisen that S-specific vaccine immunity may fail to neutralize emerging variants. We show that vaccination with a human adenovirus type 5 vector expressing the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein can establish protective immunity, defined by reduced weight loss and viral load, in both Syrian hamsters and K18-hACE2 mice. Challenge of vaccinated mice was associated with rapid N-specific T cell recall responses in the respiratory mucosa. This study supports the rationale for including additional viral Ags in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, even if they are not a target of neutralizing Abs, to broaden epitope coverage and immune effector mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)376-379
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume207
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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