Immunization with recombinant BCG expressing epitopes from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleoprotein protects against infection in a hACE-2 murine model
Lead researcher: Sergio Costa Oliveira
Co-researcher: Luís Carlos de Souza Ferreira
Collaborators: Luciana C. C. Leite (Instituto Butantan), João Santana da Silva (Fiocruz), Andre Bafica (UFSC), Glen Barber (University of Miami, USA)
Student: Fabio Mambelli (FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellow), Ana Carolina Valente (CNPq Postdoctoral Fellow)
Our group is developing an immunization strategy that uses rChimera (a protein developed by researchers that contains immunodominant epitopes from the N and S proteins of SARS-CoV-2) and BCG Mycobacterium bovis, the most widely used vaccine strain in the world, with high standard safety and a well-known adjuvant action for inducing cellular immunity.
Thus, we produce a recombinant BCG strain (rBCG-ChD6) which, when followed by a booster dose containing rChimera and Alum, results in the protection of K18-hACE2 animals after SARS-CoV-2 challenge.
Initial studies demonstrated the induction of neutralizing antibodies and a strong cellular response to vaccine formulations. Therefore, we intend to continue investigating this model, elucidating the protection mechanisms involved and evaluating the degree of protection of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
This project will not only contribute to the study of vaccines against COVID-19 but will also serve as a basis to promote the study of the rBCG platform for other infectious agents.