Intranasal spike and nucleoprotein fusion protein-based vaccine provides cross-protection and reduced transmission against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Abstract

The effectiveness of intramuscular vaccines aimed at preventing severe COVID-19 remains limited due to waning immunity and the emergence of novel variants. Next-generation vaccines are needed for broader protection and blocking virus transmission. Here, we rationally designed an original nasal subunit vaccine composed of a fusion protein (SwFN) made of Wuhan spike and nucleoprotein combined with biocompatible mucosal nanocarriers (Nc). In mouse model, the nasal Nc-SwFN vaccine elicited multivalent serum and mucosal neutralizing antibodies. Robust spike and nucleoprotein cross-reactive immunity against variants was induced with a predominant phenotype of resident memory T cells in the lungs. Moreover, Nc-SwFN led to protective responses against Wuhan and Delta infection in relevant models with an absence of morbidity, mortality, and virus dissemination in the lungs and brain. Finally, Nc-SwFN drastically reduced host-to-host transmission. These promising results underscore the advantages of the nasal Nc-SwFN approach as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate against current and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.