2022 article

Exosomes decorated with a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain as an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine

Wang, Z., Popowski, K. D., Zhu, D., Abad, B. L. de J., Wang, X., Liu, M., … Cheng, K. (2022, July 4). NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.

By: Z. Wang n, K. Popowski n, D. Zhu n, B. Abad n, X. Wang n, M. Liu n, H. Lutz n, N. De Naeyer* ...

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
MeSH headings : Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; COVID-19 / prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Exosomes; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Vaccines
Source: Web Of Science
Added: July 11, 2022

The first two mRNA vaccines against infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that were approved by regulators require a cold chain and were designed to elicit systemic immunity via intramuscular injection. Here we report the design and preclinical testing of an inhalable virus-like-particle as a COVID-19 vaccine that, after lyophilisation, is stable at room temperature for over three months. The vaccine consists of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) conjugated to lung-derived exosomes which, with respect to liposomes, enhance the retention of the RBD in both the mucus-lined respiratory airway and in lung parenchyma. In mice, the vaccine elicited RBD-specific IgG antibodies, mucosal IgA responses and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with a Th1-like cytokine expression profile in the animals' lungs, and cleared them of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus after a challenge. In hamsters, two doses of the vaccine attenuated severe pneumonia and reduced inflammatory infiltrates after a challenge with live SARS-CoV-2. Inhalable and room-temperature-stable virus-like particles may become promising vaccine candidates.