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Publications

Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Epublish 40 citations

PubMed: 37160882 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38066-8

Cationic crosslinked carbon dots-adjuvanted intranasal vaccine induces protective immunity against Omicron-included SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Nat Commun 14(1):2678

Authors: Hong Lei, Aqu Alu, Jingyun Yang, Xi He, Cai He, Wenyan Ren, Zimin Chen, Weiqi Hong, Li Chen, Xuemei He, Li Yang, Jiong Li, Zhenling Wang, Wei Wang, Yuquan Wei, Shuaiyao Lu, Guangwen Lu, Xiangrong Song, Xiawei Wei

Affiliations

  • Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
  • Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. WestVac Biopharma Co. Ltd. Chengdu, China.
  • WestVac Biopharma Co. Ltd. Chengdu, China.
  • National Kunming High-level Biosafety Primate Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Yunnan, China.
  • Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. WestVac Biopharma Co. Ltd. Chengdu, China.
  • Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. WestVac Biopharma Co. Ltd. Chengdu, China.
  • Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. WestVac Biopharma Co. Ltd. Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Mucosal immunity plays a significant role in the first-line defense against viruses transmitted and infected through the respiratory system, such as SARS-CoV-2. However, the lack of effective and safe adjuvants currently limits the development of COVID-19 mucosal vaccines. In the current study, we prepare an intranasal vaccine containing cationic crosslinked carbon dots (CCD) and a SARS-CoV-2 antigen, RBD-HR with spontaneous antigen particlization. Intranasal immunization with CCD/RBD-HR induces high levels of antibodies with broad-spectrum neutralization against authentic viruses/pseudoviruses of Omicron-included variants and protects immunized female BALB/c mice from Omicron infection. Despite strong systemic cellular immune response stimulation, the intranasal CCD/RBD-HR vaccine also induces potent mucosal immunity as determined by the generation of tissue-resident T cells in the lungs and airway. Moreover, CCD/RBD-HR not only activates professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), dendritic cells, but also effectively targets nasal epithelial cells, promotes antigen binding via sialic acid, and surprisingly provokes the antigen-presenting of nasal epithelial cells. We demonstrate that CCD is a promising intranasal vaccine adjuvant for provoking strong mucosal immunity and might be a candidate adjuvant for intranasal vaccine development for many types of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

MeSH

Cells, Sars-Cov-2, Vaccines, Biological Science Disciplines, Epithelial Cells, Immunity, Mucosal, Viruses, Immunity, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, Carbon Quantum Dots

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