Design and development of a SARS and MERS Combination Vaccine

Abstract

This work was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the licensing of any vaccines against COVID-19. Although several COVID-19 vaccines are now commercially available, this research on the development of a combination Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is still relevant and shows how a combination vaccine can be designed, produced and rapidly tested in the laboratory. We present the development of a combination vaccine designed to provide immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The primary objective of this vaccine design is twofold: to mitigate the burden of coronavirus and to address the specific vulnerability of regions prone to recurrent MERS outbreaks. Our combination vaccine incorporates antigenic components from zoonotic sources, specifically SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS. We assess the impact of combining different Spike proteins S1 subunit antigens, due to its recognised immunogenic potential, and adjuvants on serum antibody titres, virus neutralizing capabilities, and inter-antigen immune responses. We report a robust and broad antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses, which was amplified by different adjuvant formulations, including alum, MPLA, CpG, and Squalene-in-Water Emulsion.