Multimeric SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Epitope Constructs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current COVID-19 vaccines primarily target the spike protein, which may lead to waning immunity and reduced efficacy over time, as well as being less effective against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Innovation Solution
Development of immunogenic constructs comprising selected SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes that elicit a cellular immune response, including a polynucleotide encoding a targeting unit, a multimerization unit, and an antigenic unit with at least 77 T cell epitopes, to induce a strong and persistent T cell response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vaccines target only the spike protein, then neutralizing antibody responses are elicited, but immunity wanes over time and efficacy is reduced against emerging variants
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine composition is segmented into multiple distinct components: spike protein antigen, nucleocapsid protein antigen, and matrix protein antigen. This segmentation allows the immune system to recognize multiple separate viral targets, preventing immune evasion by variants that may mutate one protein while preserving immunity through recognition of other proteins.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaccine employs a composite antigen formulation combining three different SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins (spike, nucleocapsid, and matrix) into a single vaccine composition. This composite approach creates a multi-target immune response that is more durable and broadly protective against current and emerging variants compared to single-antigen vaccines.
2Reliability
If vaccines target only the spike protein, then neutralizing antibodies are produced, but protection against transmission and severe disease is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine divides the viral antigen target into three segmented components corresponding to different viral proteins (spike, nucleocapsid, matrix). This segmentation enables the immune system to generate antibodies and T-cell responses against multiple viral structures, making it harder for variants to escape detection and providing broader protective immunity across different SARS-CoV-2 strains.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-antigen vaccine formulation provides universal protection by targeting multiple conserved regions of the virus. The combination of spike, nucleocapsid, and matrix proteins creates a multi-functional immune response that can adapt to and protect against various SARS-CoV-2 variants, enhancing both transmission blocking and severe disease prevention.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If immunity wanes 4-5 months after vaccination, then booster doses are needed, but this increases the number of administrations and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine incorporates multiple antigens (spike, nucleocapsid, and matrix proteins) in advance within a single formulation. This preliminary multi-antigen action creates a more robust and longer-lasting immune response from the initial vaccination series, reducing the rate of immunity waning and extending the interval before booster doses are needed compared to single-antigen vaccines.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to immunogenic constructs, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides and multimeric proteins and to antigenic units and to pharmaceutical compositions/vaccines comprising such immunogenic constructs or antigenic units, which are useful for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of diseases caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as well as methods for producing and using the immunogenic constructs, antigenic units and pharmaceutical compositions/vaccines.