Novel Method for inducing M-protein Specific Immunity (No. 0204)

Summary

A novel method for inducing M-protein specific immunity that can be used for coronavirus vaccines.

COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 31 May 2021, more than 170 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 3.53 million confirmed deaths attributed to COVID-19. Vaccines are effective means to stop the pandemic. Some vaccines have been already established. Current vaccine strategies are to induce S-specific antibody and T cell responses and recent studies reported a correlation between the frequency of pre-existing S-specific T cells and vaccine-induced S-specific T cell responses, which suggests a role of pre-existing S-specific T cells in cognate T cell help. The inventors found that some pre-existing T cell responses to specific SARS-CoV-2 proteins, Spike (S) and Nucleoprotein (N), were diminished in elderly donors who were seronegative for S. However, substantial pre-existing T cell responses to the viral membrane (M) protein were detected in some elderly donors. This suggests that elderly individuals likely would not benefit fully from pre-existing S-specific T cells. Instead of this, the inventors provide new strategy to enhance vaccine efficacy among the elderly by inducing not only S-specific, but also M-specific immunity (ex. through using vaccines based on inactivated viruses or M-fused S antigens). This method may enhance vaccine efficacy among the elderly people for any coronavirus.

Applications

• Vaccines

Advantages

• Enhance vaccine efficacy, especially for elderly people