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A COVID-19 peptide vaccine for the induction of SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity

Author

Listed:
  • Jonas S. Heitmann

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Tatjana Bilich

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Claudia Tandler

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Annika Nelde

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Yacine Maringer

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Maddalena Marconato

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Julia Reusch

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Simon Jäger

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology
    University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Monika Denk

    (University of Tübingen)

  • Marion Richter

    (University of Tübingen)

  • Leonard Anton

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Lisa Marie Weber

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Malte Roerden

    (University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Jens Bauer

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Jonas Rieth

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Marcel Wacker

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Sebastian Hörber

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Andreas Peter

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Christoph Meisner

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    Robert Bosch Hospital, Robert Bosch Society for Medical Research)

  • Imma Fischer

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Markus W. Löffler

    (University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University Hospital Tübingen
    partner site Tübingen)

  • Julia Karbach

    (Krankenhaus Nordwest)

  • Elke Jäger

    (Krankenhaus Nordwest)

  • Reinhild Klein

    (University Hospital Tübingen)

  • Hans-Georg Rammensee

    (University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    partner site Tübingen)

  • Helmut R. Salih

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen)

  • Juliane S. Walz

    (University Hospital Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    University of Tübingen
    Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology)

Abstract

T cell immunity is central for the control of viral infections. CoVac-1 is a peptide-based vaccine candidate, composed of SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes derived from various viral proteins1,2, combined with the Toll-like receptor 1/2 agonist XS15 emulsified in Montanide ISA51 VG, aiming to induce profound SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity to combat COVID-19. Here we conducted a phase I open-label trial, recruiting 36 participants aged 18–80 years, who received a single subcutaneous CoVac-1 vaccination. The primary end point was safety analysed until day 56. Immunogenicity in terms of CoVac-1-induced T cell response was analysed as the main secondary end point until day 28 and in the follow-up until month 3. No serious adverse events and no grade 4 adverse events were observed. Expected local granuloma formation was observed in all study participants, whereas systemic reactogenicity was absent or mild. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses targeting multiple vaccine peptides were induced in all study participants, mediated by multifunctional T helper 1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CoVac-1-induced IFNγ T cell responses persisted in the follow-up analyses and surpassed those detected after SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as after vaccination with approved vaccines. Furthermore, vaccine-induced T cell responses were unaffected by current SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Together, CoVac-1 showed a favourable safety profile and induced broad, potent and variant of concern-independent T cell responses, supporting the presently ongoing evaluation in a phase II trial for patients with B cell or antibody deficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas S. Heitmann & Tatjana Bilich & Claudia Tandler & Annika Nelde & Yacine Maringer & Maddalena Marconato & Julia Reusch & Simon Jäger & Monika Denk & Marion Richter & Leonard Anton & Lisa Marie Web, 2022. "A COVID-19 peptide vaccine for the induction of SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity," Nature, Nature, vol. 601(7894), pages 617-622, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:601:y:2022:i:7894:d:10.1038_s41586-021-04232-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04232-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jaime S. Rosa Duque & Xiwei Wang & Daniel Leung & Samuel M. S. Cheng & Carolyn A. Cohen & Xiaofeng Mu & Asmaa Hachim & Yanmei Zhang & Sau Man Chan & Sara Chaothai & Kelvin K. H. Kwan & Karl C. K. Chan, 2022. "Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in healthy adolescents," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Jonas S. Heitmann & Claudia Tandler & Maddalena Marconato & Annika Nelde & Timorshah Habibzada & Susanne M. Rittig & Christian M. Tegeler & Yacine Maringer & Simon U. Jaeger & Monika Denk & Marion Ric, 2023. "Phase I/II trial of a peptide-based COVID-19 T-cell activator in patients with B-cell deficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Julia T. Castro & Patrick Azevedo & Marcílio J. Fumagalli & Natalia S. Hojo-Souza & Natalia Salazar & Gregório G. Almeida & Livia I. Oliveira & Lídia Faustino & Lis R. Antonelli & Tomas G. Marçal & Ma, 2022. "Promotion of neutralizing antibody-independent immunity to wild-type and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using an RBD-Nucleocapsid fusion protein," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Cecily Choy & Joseph Chen & Jiangyuan Li & D. Travis Gallagher & Jian Lu & Daichao Wu & Ainslee Zou & Humza Hemani & Beverly A. Baptiste & Emily Wichmann & Qian Yang & Jeffrey Ciffelo & Rui Yin & Juli, 2023. "SARS-CoV-2 infection establishes a stable and age-independent CD8+ T cell response against a dominant nucleocapsid epitope using restricted T cell receptors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Anneliese S. Ashhurst & Matt D. Johansen & Joshua W. C. Maxwell & Skye Stockdale & Caroline L. Ashley & Anupriya Aggarwal & Rezwan Siddiquee & Stefan Miemczyk & Duc H. Nguyen & Joel P. Mackay & Claudi, 2022. "Mucosal TLR2-activating protein-based vaccination induces potent pulmonary immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Christine D. Palmer & Ciaran D. Scallan & Lauren D. Kraemer Tardif & Melissa A. Kachura & Amy R. Rappaport & Daniel O. Koralek & Alison Uriel & Leonid Gitlin & Joshua Klein & Matthew J. Davis & Harshn, 2023. "GRT-R910: a self-amplifying mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosts immunity for ≥6 months in previously-vaccinated older adults," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Rúbens Prince dos Santos Alves & Julia Timis & Robyn Miller & Kristen Valentine & Paolla Beatriz Almeida Pinto & Andrew Gonzalez & Jose Angel Regla-Nava & Erin Maule & Michael N. Nguyen & Norazizah Sh, 2024. "Human coronavirus OC43-elicited CD4+ T cells protect against SARS-CoV-2 in HLA transgenic mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, December.

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