The STING Ligand and Delivery System Synergistically Enhance the Immunogenicity of an Intranasal Spike SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate
Issued Date
2022-05-01
Resource Type
eISSN
22279059
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85130748004
Journal Title
Biomedicines
Volume
10
Issue
5
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Biomedicines Vol.10 No.5 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Jearanaiwitayakul T., Limthongkul J., Kaofai C., Apichirapokey S., Chawengkirttikul R., Sapsutthipas S., Sunintaboon P., Ubol S. The STING Ligand and Delivery System Synergistically Enhance the Immunogenicity of an Intranasal Spike SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate. Biomedicines Vol.10 No.5 (2022). doi:10.3390/biomedicines10051142 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/85898
Title
The STING Ligand and Delivery System Synergistically Enhance the Immunogenicity of an Intranasal Spike SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The respiratory organ serves as a primary target site for SARS-CoV-2. Thus, the vaccine-stimulating immune response of the respiratory tract is significant in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission and disease development. In this study, mucoadhesive nanoparticles were used to deliver SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (S-NPs) into the nasal tracts of mice. The responses in the respiratory organ and the systemic responses were monitored. The administration of S-NPs along with cGAMP conferred a robust stimulation of antibody responses in the respiratory tract, as demonstrated by an increase of IgA and IgG antibodies toward the spike proteins in bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) and the lungs. Interestingly, the elicited antibodies were able to neutralize both the wild-type and Delta variant strains of SARS-CoV-2. Significantly, the intranasal immunization also stimulated systemic responses. This is evidenced by the increased production of circulating IgG and IgA, which were able to neutralize and bind specifically to the SARS-CoV-2 virion and spike protein. Additionally, this intranasal administration potently activated a splenic T cell response and the production of Th-1 cytokines, suggesting that this vaccine may well activate a cellular response in the respiratory tract. The results demonstrate that STING agonist strongly acts as an adjuvant to the immunogenicity of S-NPs. This platform may be an ideal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.