Essential considerations during vaccine design against COVID-19 and review of pioneering vaccine candidate platforms

Abstract

The calamity of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), COVID-19, is still a global human tragedy. To date, no specific antiviral drug or therapy has been able to break the widespread of SARS-CoV2. It has been generally believed that stimulating protective immunity via universal vaccination is the individual strategy to manage this pandemic. Achieving an effective COVID-19 vaccine requires attention to the immunological and non-immunological standpoints mentioned in this article. Here, we try to introduce the considerable immunological aspects, potential antigen targets, appropriate adjuvants as well as key points in the various stages of COVID-19 vaccine development. Also, the principal features of the preclinical and clinical studies of pioneering COVID-19 vaccine candidates were pointed out by reviewing the available information. Finally, we discuss the key challenges in the successful design of the COVID-19 vaccine and address the most fundamental strengths and weaknesses of common vaccine platforms.

Therapeutic and diagnostic applications of nanoparticles in the management of COVID-19: a comprehensive overview

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, a wide variety of vaccines were developed expeditiously. Vaccines are produced through different platforms, such as live attenuated vaccines, inactivated, adenovirus-vectored vaccines, recombinant protein, DNA or RNA, and nanoparticle vaccines [ 162 , 163 ]. Identified antigenic protein components that have been purified are used in today’s vaccinations, making them safer.…”

Biology and Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2: Understandings for Therapeutic Developments against COVID-19

“…Appreciating the prior experience on humanity to deal with infectious diseases such as mumps, measles, Spanish flu, and SARS; defeating the COVID-19 pandemic by the way of general (mass) vaccination will decrease the economic, social, and psychological pressures already mounted on human society [ 177 ]. The vaccines currently available from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and CureVac are mRNA type, which can be considered the leader of the vaccination program.…”

Molecular Mimicry of the Viral Spike in the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Possibly Triggers Transient Dysregulation of ACE2, Leading to Vascular and Coagulation Dysfunction Similar to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…The route of injection is likely to be important. For instance, intramuscular injection (the administration route of the mRNA-based vaccine) mainly induces protective IgG responses but has no considerable effect on lung mucosal immunity, including the specific IgA secretion and stimulation of local memory T cells [ 8 , 9 ]. In the race to develop an anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, the pharmaceutical companies opted for different strategies.…”