Preclinical study finds immune benefit in unrefrigerated Soligenix coronavirus vaccines

Many vaccines have been developed to boost immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). However, a major concern during vaccine rollout is storage, especially in countries where specialized freezers are scarce.

A new study reports positive outcomes from two new vaccine candidates. The research, led by Axel T. Lehrer from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, studied mice's immune response when administered the CoVaccine HT adjuvant with an insect-cell expressed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ectodomain.

"The vaccine candidates elicit both neutralizing antibody and cellular immunity with a balanced T helper (Th) type 1 and 2 response in an outbred mouse model. The results obtained in this model may thus inform future vaccine development in animal models more closely related to humans."

Future studies in humans could help in developing a durable coronavirus vaccine that does not require refrigeration. This could potentially increase mass vaccination efforts and provide greater immunity to a virus that has mutated in several countries worldwide.

The study "Recombinant protein subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccines formulated with CoVaccine HT adjuvant induce broad, Th1 biased, humoral and cellular immune responses in mice" is available as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

Optimizing vaccine dosages

Researchers tested vaccine immunity in 7- to 10-week old male and female Swiss Webster mice. They were given through the muscle, SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins ectodomain SdTM or SdTM2P alone or in combination with 1 mg of CoVaccine HT adjuvant treatment starting on day 0 and day 21. The control received only the adjuvant treatment.

To determine which dose provided the most significant immunity boost, they administered 5, 2.5, or 1.5 micrograms of the spike protein ectodomain and 1 milligram of the adjuvant treatment. One group received 5 micrograms of SdTM2P with 0.3 milligrams of the adjuvant treatment.

The researchers investigated antibody levels in serum samples on the 7^th, 14^th, 28^th, and 35^th day after vaccination.

Immunity observed in all mice administered the combination treatment

Immunoglobulin antibodies specific to the spike protein were observed in the mice's serum after vaccination with the CoVaccine HT adjuvant and the spike protein ectoderm. Antibody levels were higher with the spike protein ectoderm/adjuvant treatment compared to the spike protein ectoderm by itself.

Administering two doses of the combination treatment elevated immunoglobulin antibodies were also specific to the spike protein's receptor-binding domain, which is the target for neutralizing antibodies.

Vaccine-induced antibody levels were not altered by lower doses of either the spike protein ectoderm (2.5 or 1.25 micrograms) and the CoVaccine HT adjuvant (0.3 milligrams).

Neutralizing antibody titers were also measured and were higher in mice that received the combination vaccine.

Antibody titers were dose-dependent. There was an observable trend of decreased neutralization titers when mice were given lower dosages of SdTM2P proteins.

However, overall effectiveness doesn't appear to be changed by a lower dose.

The researchers write:

"Of note, the serum PRNT50 titers of mice receiving a lower amount (0.3 mg) of CoVaccine HT were comparable or even higher than those of mice given 1 mg of adjuvant, indicating that the optimal vaccine formulation may be achieved using lower dosages of adjuvant. The results indicate that as little as 2.5 mg of S protein antigen with 0.3 mg of adjuvant might be sufficient to induce potent neutralizing antibody responses."

Vaccine promotes different immune responses

The researchers evaluated the balance of Th1 and Th2 immune responses because an imbalance of Th2 has been associated with vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease. They compared the levels of S-specific IgG2a/b and IgG1 to assess the ratio between Th1 and Th2.

Results showed higher ratios of IgG2a/IgG2b in mice given the combination vaccine, suggesting the presence of Th1 immune responses.

They also evaluated the number of IFN-g-secreting cells to assess T cell responses. One and doses of the combination vaccine induced production of IFN-g-secreting cells.

Although, decreasing the amount of adjuvanted SdTM2P proteins or a lower amount of 0.3 milligrams of CoVaccine HT appeared to lower the amount of IFN-g secreting cells. However, the researchers say this finding was not statistically significant.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Written by

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira graduated with a Bachelor's in Integrative Neuroscience, where she then pursued graduate research looking at the long-term effects of adolescent binge drinking on the brain's neurochemistry in adulthood.