Selected Grantee Publications
- Clear All
- 7 results found
- COVID-19/Coronavirus
- Microscopy
- Spectrometry
A Single-Dose Intranasal Live-Attenuated Codon Deoptimized Vaccine Provides Broad Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants
Liu et al., Nature Communications. 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39187479
Researchers developed an intranasal, single-dose, live-attenuated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) vaccine (CDO-7N-1) using codon deoptimization. This vaccine demonstrates broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants, with highly attenuated replication and minimal lung pathology across multiple in vivo passages. The vaccine induced robust mucosal and systemic neutralizing antibodies, as well as T-cell responses, in male and female hamsters, female K18-hACE2 mice, and male HFH4-hACE2 mice. In male and female cynomolgus macaques, CDO-7N-1 effectively prevented infection, reduced severe disease, and limited transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants. This innovative approach offers potential advantages over traditional spike-protein vaccines by providing durable protection and targeting emerging variants to curb virus transmission. Supported by ORIP (K01OD026529).
Proof-of-Concept Studies With a Computationally Designed Mpro Inhibitor as a Synergistic Combination Regimen Alternative to Paxlovid
Papini et al., PNAS. 2024.
As the spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 continues, it is important to continue to not only work to prevent transmission but to develop improved antiviral treatments as well. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) has been established as a prominent druggable target. In the current study, investigators evaluate Mpro61 as a lead compound, utilizing structural studies, in vitro pharmacological profiling to examine possible off-target effects and toxicity, cellular studies, and testing in a male and female mouse model for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results indicate favorable pharmacological properties, efficacy, and drug synergy, as well as complete recovery from subsequent challenge by SARS-CoV-2, establishing Mpro61 as a promising potential preclinical candidate. Supported by ORIP (R24OD026440, S10OD021527), NIAID, and NIGMS.
Broad Receptor Tropism and Immunogenicity of a Clade 3 Sarbecovirus
Lee et al., Cell Host and Microbe. 2023.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931312823004225
Investigators showed that the S glycoprotein of the clade 3 sarbecovirus PRD-0038 in the African Rhinolophus bat has a broad angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) usage and that receptor-binding domain (RBD) mutations further expand receptor promiscuity and enable human ACE2 utilization. They generated a cryogenic electron microscopy structure of the RBD bound to ACE2, explaining receptor tropism and highlighting differences between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. PRD‑0038 S vaccination elicits greater titers of antibodies cross-reacting with vaccine-mismatched clade 2 and clade 1a sarbecoviruses, compared with SARS-CoV-2. These findings underline a potential molecular pathway for zoonotic spillover of a clade 3 sarbecovirus, as well as the need to develop pan-sarbecovirus vaccines and countermeasures. Supported by ORIP (S10OD032290, S10OD026959, S10OD021644), NIAID, NCI, and NIGMS.
SARS-CoV-2 Infects Neurons and Induces Neuroinflammation in a Non-Human Primate Model of COVID-19
Beckman et al., Cell Reports. 2022.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111573
SARS-CoV-2 causes brain fog and other neurological complications in some patients. It has been unclear whether SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain directly or whether central nervous system sequelae result from systemic inflammatory responses triggered in the periphery. Using a rhesus macaque model, researchers detected SARS-CoV-2 in the olfactory cortex and interconnected regions 7 days after infection, demonstrating that the virus enters the brain through the olfactory nerve. Neuroinflammation and neuronal damage were more severe in elderly monkeys with type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that in aged monkeys, SARS-CoV-2 traveled farther along nerve pathways to regions associated with Alzheimer's disease. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107) and NIA.
In Vitro and In Vivo Functions of SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Enhancing and Neutralizing Antibodies
Li et al., Cell. 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.021
Antibody-dependent enhancement of infection is a concern for clinical use of antibodies. Researchers isolated neutralizing antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) or N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike from COVID-19 patients. Cryo-electron microscopy of RBD and NTD antibodies demonstrated function-specific binding modes. RBD and NTD antibodies mediated both neutralization and infection enhancement in vitro. However, infusion of these antibodies into mice or macaques resulted in suppression of virus replication, demonstrating that antibody-enhanced infection in vitro does not necessarily predict enhanced infection in vivo. RBD-neutralizing antibodies having cross-reactivity against coronaviruses were protective against SARS-CoV-2, the most potent of which was DH1047. Supported by ORIP (P40OD012217, U42OD021458, S10OD018164), NIAID, NCI, NIGMS, and NIH Common Fund.
Neutralizing Antibody Vaccine for Pandemic and Pre-Emergent Coronaviruses
Saunders et al., Nature. 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03594-0
SARS-CoV-2 is a new member of the betacoronavirus (beta-CoV) genus, which also includes two common mild beta-CoVs and the life-threatening SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. Vaccines that elicit protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and beta-CoVs that circulate in animals could prevent future pandemics. Researchers designed a novel 24-mer SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain-sortase A conjugated nanoparticle vaccine (RBD-scNP). Investigators demonstrated that the immunization of macaques with RBD-scNP, and adjuvanted with 3M-052 and alum, elicits cross-neutralizing antibody responses against bat coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, and multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. This pioneering approach serves as a multimeric protein platform for the further development of generalized anti-beta-CoV vaccines. Supported by ORIP (U42OD021458), NIAID, and NCI.
Best Practices for Correctly Identifying Coronavirus by Transmission Electron Microscopy
Bullock et al., Kidney International. 2021.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33493525/
This paper provides strategies for identifying coronaviruses by transmission electron microscopy in ultrathin sections of tissues or tissue cultures. As illustrated by results in the literature, organ damage may be incorrectly attributed to the presence of virus, since images of coronavirus may resemble subcellular organelles. The paper also references numerous biochemical and imaging techniques to aid an investigator in avoiding pseudo positive identifications. Supported by ORIP (S10OD026776) and others.