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Usage Information

Multiantigen pan-sarbecovirus DNA vaccines generate protective T cell immune responses
Jeroen van Bergen, Marcel G.M. Camps, Iris N. Pardieck, Dominique Veerkamp, Wing Yan Leung, Anouk A. Leijs, Sebenzile K. Myeni, Marjolein Kikkert, Ramon Arens, Gerben C. Zondag, Ferry Ossendorp
Jeroen van Bergen, Marcel G.M. Camps, Iris N. Pardieck, Dominique Veerkamp, Wing Yan Leung, Anouk A. Leijs, Sebenzile K. Myeni, Marjolein Kikkert, Ramon Arens, Gerben C. Zondag, Ferry Ossendorp
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Research Article COVID-19 Vaccines

Multiantigen pan-sarbecovirus DNA vaccines generate protective T cell immune responses

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is the third zoonotic coronavirus to cause a major outbreak in humans in recent years, and many more SARS-like coronaviruses with pandemic potential are circulating in several animal species. Vaccines inducing T cell immunity against broadly conserved viral antigens may protect against hospitalization and death caused by outbreaks of such viruses. We report the design and preclinical testing of 2 T cell–based pan-sarbecovirus vaccines, based on conserved regions within viral proteins of sarbecovirus isolates of human and other carrier animals, like bats and pangolins. One vaccine (CoVAX_ORF1ab) encoded antigens derived from nonstructural proteins, and the other (CoVAX_MNS) encoded antigens from structural proteins. Both multiantigen DNA vaccines contained a large set of antigens shared across sarbecoviruses and were rich in predicted and experimentally validated human T cell epitopes. In mice, the multiantigen vaccines generated both CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses to shared epitopes. Upon encounter of full-length spike antigen, CoVAX_MNS-induced CD4+ T cells were responsible for accelerated CD8+ T cell and IgG Ab responses specific to the incoming spike, irrespective of its sarbecovirus origin. Finally, both vaccines elicited partial protection against a lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge in human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2–transgenic mice. These results support clinical testing of these universal sarbecovirus vaccines for pandemic preparedness.

Authors

Jeroen van Bergen, Marcel G.M. Camps, Iris N. Pardieck, Dominique Veerkamp, Wing Yan Leung, Anouk A. Leijs, Sebenzile K. Myeni, Marjolein Kikkert, Ramon Arens, Gerben C. Zondag, Ferry Ossendorp

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Usage data is cumulative from January 2025 through January 2026.

Usage JCI PMC
Text version 791 127
PDF 199 16
Figure 438 0
Supplemental data 96 3
Citation downloads 86 0
Totals 1,610 146
Total Views 1,756

Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.

Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.

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