Immunogenicity of an AAV-Based COVID-19 Vaccine in Murine Models of Obesity and Aging

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a disastrous impact on global health. Although some vaccine candidates have been effective in combating SARS-CoV-2, logistical, economical, and sociological aspects still limit vaccine access globally. Recently, we reported on two room-temperature stable AAV-based COVID-19 vaccines that induced potent and protective immunogenicity following a single injection in murine and primate models. Obesity and old age are associated with increased mortality in COVID-19, as well as reduced immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of the AAVCOVID vaccine candidates in murine models of obesity and aging. Results demonstrate that obesity did not significantly alter the immunogenicity of either vaccine candidate. In aged mice, vaccine immunogenicity was impaired. These results suggest that AAV-based vaccines may have limitations in older populations and may be equally applicable in obese and non-obese populations.

Immunisation efficacy of a stabilised SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in two geriatric animal models

“…Ageing is therefore a determining factor in the evaluation of vaccine efficacy in the overall population. To date, however, a limited number of preclinical studies of COVID-19 vaccines using geriatric animal models have been published, and, to our knowledge, only two of them offer post-immunisation data from animals that were subsequently challenged with SARS-CoV-2 22 – 25 .…”