The Characterization of Technical Design of a Virus-like Structure (VLS) Nanodelivery System As Vaccine Candidate Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Overview

Journal Hum Vaccin Immunother

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2025 Mar 6

PMID 40045463

Authors

Jingjing Zhang

Fengyuan Zeng

Yanmei Li

Changyong Mu

Change Liu

Lichun Wang

Xiaowu Peng

Liping He

Yanrui Su

Hongbing Li

An Wang

Lin Feng

Dongxiu Gao

Zhixiao Zhang

Gang Xu

Yixuan Wang

Rong Yue

Junbo Si

Lichun Zheng

Xiong Zhang

Fuyun He

Hongkun Yi

Zhongshu Tang

Gaocan Li

Kaili Ma

Qihan Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The constant mutation of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the continuous appearance of viral variants and their pandemics and has improved the development of vaccines with a broad spectrum of antigens to curb the spread of the virus. The work described here suggested a novel vaccine with a virus-like structure (VLS) composed of combined mRNA and protein that is capable of stimulating the immune system in a manner similar to that of viral infection. This VLS vaccine is characterized by its ability to specifically target dendritic cells and/or macrophages through S1 protein recognition of the DC-SIGN receptor in cells, which leads to direct mRNA delivery to these innate immune cells for activation of robust immunity with a broad spectrum of neutralizing antibodies and immune protective capacity against variants. Research on its composition characteristics and structural features has suggested its druggability. Compared with the current mRNA vaccine, the VLS vaccine was identified as having no cytotoxicity at its effective application dosage, while the results of safety observations in animals revealed fewer adverse reactions during immunization.

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