Broad-spectrum coronavirus neutralization induced by hetero RBD-Fc
protein vaccine
Abstract
In the landscape of infectious diseases, human coronaviruses such as
SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 pose significant threats,
characterized by severe respiratory illnesses and notable resistance to
conventional treatments due to their rapid evolution and the emergence
of diverse variants, particularly within SARS-CoV-2. This study
investigates the development of broad-spectrum coronavirus vaccines
using heterodimeric RBD-Fc proteins engineered through the
‘Knob-into-Hole’ technique. We constructed various recombinant proteins
incorporating the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of different
coronaviruses. Heterodimers combining RBDs from SARS-CoV-2 with those of
SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV elicited superior neutralizing responses compared
to homodimeric proteins in murine models. Additionally, heterotetrameric
proteins, specifically D614G_Delta/BA.1_XBB.1.5-RBD and
MERS_D614G/BA.1_XBB.1.5-RBD, demonstrated remarkable breadth and
potency in neutralizing all known SARS-CoV-2 variants, SARS-CoV, related
sarbecoviruses like GD-Pangolin and WIV1, and even MERS-CoV
pseudoviruses. Furthermore, these heterotetrameric proteins also
demonstrated enhanced cellular immune responses. These findings
underscore the potential of recombinant hetero proteins as a universal
vaccine strategy against current and future coronavirus threats.