Exosomal vaccines containing the S protein of the SARS coronavirus induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies

Virology. 2007 May 25;362(1):26-37. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2006.12.011. Epub 2007 Jan 26.

Abstract

Infection with the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) induces an atypical pulmonary disease with a high lethality rate. Although the initial SARS epidemic was contained, sporadic outbreaks of the disease still occur, suggesting a continuous need for a vaccine against this virus. We therefore explored exosome-based vaccines containing the spike S proteins of SARS-CoV. S-containing exosomes were obtained by replacing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the S protein by those of VSV-G. The immunogenicity and efficacy of the S-containing exosomes were tested in mice and compared to an adenoviral vector vaccine expressing the S protein. Both, S-containing exosomes and the adenoviral vector vaccine induced neutralizing antibody titers. After priming with the SARS-S exosomal vaccine and boosting with the adenoviral vector the neutralizing antibody titers exceeded those observed in the convalescent serum of a SARS patient. Both approaches were effective in a SARS-S-expressing tumor challenge model and thus warrant further investigation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cell Line
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Animal
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Transport Vesicles / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines
  • spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV
  • spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus