Truncated SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins for Enhanced Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vaccines and immunization methods are inadequate in providing effective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and preventing COVID-19, particularly in managing the rapid spread of the virus and potential future outbreaks.

Innovation Solution

Development of proteins, nucleic acids, and plasmids with specific sequences that encode for SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, including truncated cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains, and modified protease cleavage sites, administered to induce immunity through various immunization methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current vaccines and immunization methods are used, then immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is provided, but the immunity is inadequate and cannot effectively prevent COVID-19 or manage rapid spread

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of immunityVSAvoidability to prevent spread and future outbreaks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the spike protein structure by truncating the cytoplasmic domain and transmembrane domain, and altering protease cleavage sites. These parameter changes in the antigen structure create a modified immunogen that elicits more effective immune responses, directly addressing the insufficiency of current vaccines in providing reliable immunity and preventing virus spread

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If proteins with truncated cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains are used, then immune response is enhanced, but protein structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness of immune responseVSAvoidprotein structure design

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the cytoplasmic domain and transmembrane domain from the full-length spike protein, creating a truncated version. This extraction of unnecessary domains simplifies the protein structure while enhancing immunogenicity, as the removed portions are not essential for eliciting protective immune responses and may even interfere with vaccine effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spike protein is segmented into functional domains, with the patent focusing on the essential extracellular portions (S1 and S2 domains with modified cleavage sites) while separating out the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. This segmentation allows for optimized antigen design that maintains immunogenicity while reducing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230405109A1Nucleic acids, proteins, and vaccines of SARS-COV-2

Publication Date: 2023.12.21 CITY OF HOPE

AI summary

Provided herein are, inter alia, SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) proteins; nucleic acids and plasmids encoding the proteins; vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the proteins, nucleic acids, or plasmids; methods for treating or preventing COVID-19; and methods for increasing immunity or providing acquired immunity to SARS-CoV in a subject.