Spike-based COVID-19 vaccines induce potent neutralizing antibodies but their efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants decreases. OVX033 is a recombinant protein composed of the full-length nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 genetically fused to oligoDOM®, a self-assembling domain which improves antigen immunogenicity. OVX033 including N as an antigenic target is proposed as new vaccine candidate providing broad-spectrum protection against sarbecoviruses. OVX033 demonstrated its ability to trigger cross-reactive T cell responses and cross-protection against three variants of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1 Europe, Delta B.1.617.2, and Omicron B.1.1.529) in a hamster challenge model, as evidenced by lower weight loss, lower lung viral loads, and reduced lung histopathological lesions.
Keywords: T cell immunity; broad-spectrum protection; cross-reactive immune responses; lung histopathology; lung viral load; recombinant nucleocapsid; sarbecovirus vaccine; universal vaccine.
Copyright © 2023 Primard, Monchâtre-Leroy, Del Campo, Valsesia, Nikly, Chevandier, Boué, Servat, Wasniewski, Picard-Meyer, Courant, Collin, Salguero, Le Vert, Guyon-Gellin and Nicolas.