Immunogenic properties of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated by ultraviolet light

Abstract

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most effective method of controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reducing mortality from this disease. The development of vaccines with high protective activity against a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 antigenic variants remains relevant. In this regard, evaluation of the effectiveness of physical methods of virus inactivation, such as ultraviolet irradiation (UV) of the virus stock, remains relevant. This study demonstrates that the UV treatment of SARS-CoV-2 completely inactivates its infectivity while preserving its morphology, antigenic properties, and ability to induce the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies in mice through immunization. Thus, the UV inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 makes it possible to obtain viral material similar in its antigenic and immunogenic properties to the native antigen, which can be used both for the development of diagnostic test systems and for the development of an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19.