DNA origami presenting the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 elicit robust protective immune response

Esra Oktay; Farhang Alem; Keziah Hernandez; Michael Girgis; Christopher Green; Divita Mathur; Igor L Medintz; Aarthi Narayanan; Remi Veneziano

doi:10.1038/s42003-023-04689-2

DNA origami presenting the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 elicit robust protective immune response

Commun Biol. 2023 Mar 23;6(1):308. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04689-2.

Authors

Esra Oktay¹, Farhang Alem², Keziah Hernandez², Michael Girgis¹, Christopher Green³, Divita Mathur⁴, Igor L Medintz³, Aarthi Narayanan⁵, Remi Veneziano⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
² National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
³ Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA. anaraya1@gmu.edu.
⁶ Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA. rvenezia@gmu.edu.

Abstract

Effective and safe vaccines are invaluable tools in the arsenal to fight infectious diseases. The rapid spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop methods for rapid and efficient vaccine development. DNA origami nanoparticles (DNA-NPs) presenting multiple antigens in prescribed nanoscale patterns have recently emerged as a safe, efficient, and easily scalable alternative for rational design of vaccines. Here, we are leveraging the unique properties of these DNA-NPs and demonstrate that precisely patterning ten copies of a reconstituted trimer of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 along with CpG adjuvants on the DNA-NPs is able to elicit a robust protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model. Our results demonstrate the potential of our DNA-NP-based approach for developing safe and effective nanovaccines against infectious diseases with prolonged antibody response and effective protection in the context of a viral challenge.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibody Formation
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19*
Mice
SARS-CoV-2
Viral Vaccines* / genetics

Substances

Viral Vaccines
COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

R00 EB030013/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States