SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a triumph of science and collaboration
Jonathan L. Golob, … , Adam S. Lauring, Anna S. Lok
Jonathan L. Golob, … , Adam S. Lauring, Anna S. Lok
Published April 6, 2021
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2021;6(9):e149187. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.149187.
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SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a triumph of science and collaboration

Abstract

Roughly 1 year after the first case of COVID-19 was identified and less than 1 year after the sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccines with demonstrated safety and efficacy in phase III clinical trials are available. The most promising vaccines have targeted the surface glycoprotein (S-protein) of SARS-CoV-2 and achieved an approximate 85%–95% reduction in the risk of symptomatic COVID-19, while retaining excellent safety profiles and modest side effects in the phase III clinical trials. The mRNA, replication-incompetent viral vector, and protein subunit vaccine technologies have all been successfully employed. Some novel SARS-CoV-2 variants evade but do not appear to fully overcome the potent immunity induced by these vaccines. Emerging real-world effectiveness data add evidence for protection from severe COVID-19. This is an impressive first demonstration of the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccine and vector vaccine platforms. The success of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development should be credited to open science, industry partnerships, harmonization of clinical trials, and the altruism of study participants. The manufacturing and distribution of the emergency use–authorized SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are ongoing challenges. What remains now is to ensure broad and equitable global vaccination against COVID-19.

Authors

Jonathan L. Golob, Njira Lugogo, Adam S. Lauring, Anna S. Lok

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Figure 1

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platforms.

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SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platforms. A schematic representation of the major SA...
A schematic representation of the major SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platforms under active development as of February 2021. Adenoviral vector vaccines refer to replication-incompetent adenoviral-based vectors. All candidate vaccines (aside from whole inactivated virus) target the binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. Both mRNA and vector vaccines target muscle cells at the site of injection. The muscle cells produce (portions of the) SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is in turn presented via MHC class I to antigen-presenting cells and cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, protein subunit vaccines and inactivated viral vaccines are directly taken up by antigen-presenting cells. The antigen-presenting cells in turn present the spike protein antigen to T helper cells and B cells, resulting in an orchestrated humoral and cellular immune response against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, including the generation of memory T cells and B cells to respond to future exposures to SARS-CoV-2. Illustrated by Rachel Davidowitz.