Nucleic Acid Combination Vaccine for Multi-Virus Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developing a combination vaccine that provides effective protection against Coronaviruses, particularly pandemic Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, and additional viruses such as Influenza and RSV is challenging due to compatibility issues and the need for different vaccination intervals, which complicates the induction of efficient immune responses without immune interference.
Innovation Solution
A nucleic acid-based combination vaccine comprising coding sequences encoding antigenic peptides or proteins from Coronaviruses and further viruses, such as Influenza or RSV, which can be co-expressed in human cells, inducing antigen-specific immune responses and broad cellular and humoral immune responses, including mucosal immunity, without enhancing virus infection or causing immunopathological effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a combination vaccine contains multiple viral antigens (Coronavirus and Influenza/RSV), then protection against multiple viruses is achieved, but immune interference occurs reducing the efficiency of individual immune responses
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine divides the immune response into distinct segments by spatially separating different viral antigens (Coronavirus spike protein and Influenza/RSV antigens) within the formulation, allowing each antigen to elicit its own immune response independently without interference, while still providing combined protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific adjuvants and formulation components as intermediaries to modulate the immune response to each antigen separately, ensuring that the presence of multiple antigens does not compromise the efficacy of individual antigen-specific immune responses
2Reliability
If different vaccination intervals are required for different viruses, then each virus can be optimally targeted, but the vaccination schedule becomes complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine merges multiple viral antigens into a single formulation that can be administered at a single time point, eliminating the need for separate vaccinations at different intervals and simplifying the vaccination schedule while maintaining optimal protection against all targeted viruses
Solution Approach 2:
The vaccine formulation is designed with universal applicability to protect against multiple virus types simultaneously, with a single administration providing broad protection across different viral targets, making the vaccination program universally applicable and easy to implement
3Reliability
If high doses of multiple antigens are administered, then strong immune responses are induced, but adverse reactions and immunopathological effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine optimizes the concentration parameters of each antigen and adjuvant in the formulation to achieve the minimum effective dose required for robust immune responses, thereby reducing the risk of adverse reactions and immunopathological effects while maintaining high efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs carefully selected adjuvants as intermediaries that enhance the immune response to low doses of antigens, allowing effective protection to be achieved with reduced antigen quantities, thus minimizing adverse reactions while maintaining strong immunity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vaccine induces robust and balanced immune responses, providing protection against multiple viruses with a fast onset and long-lasting immunity, requiring only one or two vaccinations and a low dose, while maintaining stability and safety, and is suitable for various age groups including the elderly.
Implementation Method 1
nucleic acid encoding at least one antigenic peptide or protein from a Coronavirus... and at least one nucleic acid encoding at least one antigenic peptide or protein from a further virus
Implementation Method 2
coding sequences encoding antigenic peptides or proteins from Coronaviruses and further viruses, such as Influenza or RSV, which can be co-expressed in human cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is inter alia directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding at least one antigenic peptide or protein from a Coronavirus, preferably a pandemic Coronavirus, and at least one nucleic acid encoding at least one antigenic peptide or protein from a further virus, e.g. an Influenza virus or an RSV virus. Pharmaceutical compositions provided herein are suitable for use in treatment or prophylaxis of an infection with at least one Coronavirus and at least one further virus infection, and may therefore be comprised in a combination vaccine. The nucleic acid sequences of the pharmaceutical compositions and combination vaccines are preferably in association with a polymeric carrier, a polycationic protein or peptide, or a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The invention is also directed to first and second and further medical uses of the pharmaceutical compositions and combination vaccines, and to methods of treating or preventing a Coronavirus infection and a further virus infection.