To evaluate the immunogenicity, including antibody responses and T cell activation, and protective efficacy of the multi-epitope mRNA vaccine CoV2-BMEPu against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Key Findings:
LNP-BMEPu elicited robust binding and neutralizing antibodies against both ancestral and Omicron subvariants, indicating strong humoral immunity.
Vaccination induced strong CD8⁺ T cell and T follicular helper responses that persisted over time, suggesting durable cellular immunity.
Complete protection against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge was observed in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice, highlighting the vaccine's efficacy.
Interpretation:
CoV2-BMEPu demonstrates potential as a next-generation vaccine capable of inducing broad and durable immunity against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants, although further validation is necessary.
Limitations:
Preclinical results need validation in human clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy in diverse populations.
Long-term efficacy and safety profiles are yet to be established, which are critical for public health implementation.
Conclusion:
CoV2-BMEPu represents a promising multi-epitope mRNA vaccine strategy for comprehensive protection against SARS-CoV-2.
by Laura Marcos-Villar, Beatriz Perdiguero, Laura Sin, Enrique Álvarez, Sara Flores, José M. Casasnovas, Tirso Pons, Carlos Oscar S. Sorzano, Daniel del Hoyo, Philipp Lapuhs, María J. Alonso, Mariano Esteban, Carmen Elena Gómez
