Thread by @veeslerlab

The peer-reviewed version of our article describing the design and evaluation of a multivalent #SARSCoV2 receptor-binding domain #COVID19 vaccine is out!

Work Led by @coronalexington and Brooke Fiala.

cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

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Based on our previous studies of the immune response to coronavirus infections, we identified that the receptor-binding domain is immunodominant and accounts for most of the neutralizing activity in convalescent plasma/sera.

cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

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We therefore reached out to @KingLabIPD who had recently developed a self-assembling two component protein nanoparticle platform allowing to multivalently display respiratory syncytial virus F that elicit high-titers of neutralizing antibodies.

cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

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We started making nanoparticles displaying 60 copies of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain and showed they elicit stunningly high titers of neutralizing antibodies which protect mice against SARS-CoV-2 MA (thanks @timothysheahan & @Baric_Lab).

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We observed that the nanoparticle vaccine induced stronger B cell responses than the spike trimer (thanks @PepperMarion lab) and that the antibodies elicited target multiple epitopes on the receptor-binding domains which should limit the risk of selection of escape mutants.

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@icosavax & SK bioscience Co., Ltd have already initiated cGMP manufacturing to start clinical trials soon!

Thank you very much to all other collaborators involved in this work @PaulKellam_2 @FullerLab_UW
Kelly Lee's lab & @HelenChuMD

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