Open AccessDesign and proof of concept for targeted phage-based COVID-19 vaccination strategies with a streamlined cold-free supply chain
Author(s) -
Daniela I. Staquicini,
Fenny Hui Fen Tang,
Christopher Markosian,
Virginia J. Yao,
Fernanda I. Staquicini,
Esteban Dodero-Rojas,
Vinícius G. Contessoto,
Deodate Davis,
Paul Edmond O'Brien,
Nazia Habib,
Tracey L. Smith,
Natalie Bruiners,
Richard L. Sidman,
Maria Laura Gennaro,
Edmund C. Lattime,
Steven K. Libutti,
Paul C. Whitford,
S.K. Burley,
José N. Onuchic,
Wadih Arap,
Renata Pasqualini
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2105739118
Subject(s) - phage display , capsid , immunogenicity , epitope , virology , biology , bacteriophage , phagemid , population , peptide library , virus , antibody , peptide sequence , gene , immunology , escherichia coli , medicine , genetics , environmental health
Significance The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact. Although several vaccines have received emergency use authorization, demand has created enormous logistical challenges—including supply, access, and distribution—that justify research for alternative strategies. Phage are viruses that only infect bacteria and can be safely administered to humans. Here, as a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that aerosol vaccination with lung-targeted phage particles displaying short SARS-CoV-2 S protein epitopes and subcutaneous vaccination with targeted AAVP particles carrying the entire S protein gene both elicit systemic and specific immune responses in immunocompetent mice. Given their unique attributes, including sturdiness, simple-to-engineer platform, cost-effectiveness for rapid large-scale production, and stability at room temperature, these phage-based approaches may become attractive tools for COVID-19 vaccine development.