@article{0427ed083c9346ad91f7259b0e335be2,
title = "Immunization with RBD-P2 and N protects against SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman primates",
abstract = "Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), various vaccines are being developed, with most vaccine candidates focusing on the viral spike protein. Here, we developed a previously unknown subunit vaccine comprising the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein fused with the tetanus toxoid epitope P2 (RBD-P2) and tested its efficacy in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs). We also investigated whether the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N) could increase vaccine efficacy. Immunization with N and RBD-P2 (RBDP2/N) + alum increased T cell responses in mice and neutralizing antibody levels in rats compared with those obtained using RBD-P2 + alum. Furthermore, in NHPs, RBD-P2/N + alum induced slightly faster SARS-CoV-2 clearance than that induced by RBD-P2 + alum, albeit without statistical significance. Our study supports further development of RBD-P2 as a vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2. Also, it provides insights regarding the use of N in protein-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.",
author = "Hong, {So Hee} and Hanseul Oh and Park, {Yong Wook} and Kwak, {Hye Won} and Oh, {Eun Young} and Park, {Hyo Jung} and Kang, {Kyung Won} and Green Kim and Koo, {Bon Sang} and Hwang, {Eun Ha} and Baek, {Seung Ho} and Park, {Hyeong Jun} and Lee, {Yu Sun} and Bang, {Yoo Jin} and Kim, {Jae Yong} and Bae, {Seo Hyeon} and Lee, {Su Jeen} and Seo, {Ki Weon} and Hak Kim and Taewoo Kwon and Kim, {Ji Hwan} and Seonghwan Lee and Eunsom Kim and Yeonhwa Kim and Park, {Jae Hak} and Park, {Sang In} and Marta Gon{\c c}alves and Weon, {Byung Mook} and Haengdueng Jeong and Nam, {Ki Taek} and Hwang, {Kyung Ah} and Jihye Kim and Hun Kim and Lee, {Sang Myeong} and Hong, {Jung Joo} and Nam, {Jae Hwan}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by grants from RIGHT and SK Bioscience (grant nos. M-2020-D0731-0002 and M-2020-D0732-0003), as well as by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience (PRM1752011), Bio-industrial Core Technology Development Project from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (20013101) and Biotechnology (KRIBB) Research Initiative Program (KGM4572013). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY).",
year = "2021",
month = may,
doi = "10.1126/sciadv.abg7156",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
journal = "Science Advances",
issn = "2375-2548",
publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",
number = "22",
}