SARS CoV 2 mRNA Vaccine Design Enabled by Prototype Pathogen Preparedness
A vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) is needed to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) global pandemic. Structural studies have led to the development of mutations that stabilize Betacoronavirus spike proteins in the prefusion state, improving their expression and increasing immunogenicity 1 This principle has been applied to design mRNA 1273, an mRNA vaccine that encodes a SARS CoV 2 spike protein that is stabilized in the prefusion conformation. Here we show that mRNA 1273 induces potent neutralizing antibody responses to both wild type (D614) and D614G mutant 2 SARS CoV 2 as well as CD8 T cell responses, and protects against SARS CoV 2 infection in the lungs and noses of mice without evidence of immunopathology. mRNA 1273 is currently in a phase III trial to evaluate its efficacy. mRNA 1273, an mRNA vaccine that encodes a stabilized prefusion state severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) spike protein, elicits robust immune responses and protects mice against replication of SARS CoV 2 in the upper and lower airways.
Nature