Optimised non-coding regions of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CV2CoV improves homogeneous and heterogenous neutralising antibody responses

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Abstract

More than two years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, 33 COVID-19 vaccines, based on different platforms, have been approved in 197 countries. Novel variants that are less efficiently neutralised by antibodies raised against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 are circulating, highlighting the need to adapt vaccination strategies. Here, we compare the immunogenicity of a first-generation mRNA vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, with a second-generation mRNA vaccine candidate, CV2CoV, in rats. Higher levels of spike (S) protein expression were observed in cell culture with CV2CoV mRNA than with CVnCoV mRNA. Vaccination with CV2CoV also induced higher titres of virus neutralising antibodies with accelerated kinetics in rats compared with CVnCoV. Significant cross-neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and the ‘mink’ variant (B1.1.298) that were circulating at the time in early 2021 was also demonstrated. In addition, CV2CoV induced higher levels of antibodies at lower doses than CVnCoV, suggesting that dose-sparing could be possible with the next generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine which could improve worldwide vaccine supply.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2021.05.13.443734: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Ethicsnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variableAnimals: Female and male rats (Wistar, 7-8 weeks of age) were provided and handled by Preclinics Gesellschaft für präklinische Forschung mbH, (Potsdam, Germany).
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Cell Line Authenticationnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    Specific S protein expression was assessed via staining with Human anti SARS CoV S antibody (CR3022) (Creative Biolabs, Cat.
    anti SARS CoV S
    suggested: None
    CR3022
    suggested: None
    MRO-1214LC) followed by goat anti-human IgG F(ab’)2 fragment PE antibody (Immuno Research, Cat. 109-116-097) in a BD FACS Canto II cell analyzer and the FlowJo 10 software.
    anti-human IgG
    suggested: (Jackson ImmunoResearch Labs Cat# 109-116-097, RRID:AB_2337677)
    Antibody analysis: SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD protein specific IgG1 and IgG2a binding antibodies were detected via ELISA.
    SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD protein specific IgG1
    suggested: None
    Experimental Models: Cell Lines
    SentencesResources
    In vitro protein expression: For detection of mRNA expression in cell culture, HeLa cells were seeded in 6-well plates at a density of 400.000 cells/well. 24h later, cells were transfected with 2μg of mRNA per well via Lipofection.
    HeLa
    suggested: None
    Lastly, 100 μl of trypsinated VeroE6 cells (cells of one confluent TC175 flask per 100 ml) in DMEM with 2 % penicillin/streptomycin supplementation was added to each well.
    VeroE6
    suggested: JCRB Cat# JCRB1819, RRID:CVCL_YQ49)
    Experimental Models: Organisms/Strains
    SentencesResources
    Animals: Female and male rats (Wistar, 7-8 weeks of age) were provided and handled by Preclinics Gesellschaft für präklinische Forschung mbH, (Potsdam, Germany).
    Wistar
    suggested: None
    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    MRO-1214LC) followed by goat anti-human IgG F(ab’)2 fragment PE antibody (Immuno Research, Cat. 109-116-097) in a BD FACS Canto II cell analyzer and the FlowJo 10 software.
    FlowJo
    suggested: (FlowJo, RRID:SCR_008520)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).


    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.


    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.


    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.


    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.


    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.