Obstacles and advances in SARS vaccine development

Abstract

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that resulted in a pandemic in 2003 spurred a flurry of interest in the development of vaccines to prevent and treat the potentially deadly viral infection. Researchers around the world pooled their scientific resources and shared early data in an unprecedented manner in light of the impending public health crisis. There are still large gaps in knowledge about the pathogenesis of this virus. While significant advances have been made in the development of animal models, the practicality of their use may be hampered by a lack of pathological similarity with human disease. Described here are issues related to progress in vaccine development and the obstacles that lie ahead for both researchers and regulatory agencies.

Adenovirus-based vaccine prevents pneumonia in ferrets challenged with the SARS coronavirus and stimulates robust immune responses in macaques

“…A number of vaccine strategies have been evaluated for prevention of infection with SARS-CoV [14,15]. Many of these approaches have indeed elicited antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV in vitro and activated T cells against SARS-CoV epitopes.…”

“…Vaccine strategies have attempted to elicit both neutralizing antibodies (NABs) and CD8 + T cells against SARS-CoV antigens. Killed SARS-CoV, pseudo particles and protein subunit vaccines containing S have produced NABs to SARS-CoV in mouse models which inhibit virus replication in vitro [14,15]. In fact, a clinical trial of inactivated SARS-CoV is underway in China (http://www.sfda.gov.cn/ cmsweb/webportal/W4291/A43486324.html?searchword= %28SARS%D2%DF+AND+%C3%E7%29,http://www.…”

Learning from the Past: Possible Urgent Prevention and Treatment Options for Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Caused by 2019‐nCoV

“…[8][9][10][11][12] Severals trategies including live-attenuated SARS-CoV,k illed SARS-CoV,D NA vaccinesa nd viral vectored vaccines have been successfully used to vaccinate against animal SARS-CoVs. The development of SARS vaccines based on the spike protein has been summarized in several previous reviews.…”

Immunogenicity of a receptor-binding domain of SARS coronavirus spike protein in mice: Implications for a subunit vaccine

“…Although SARS human-to-human transmission stopped in 2003, the development of a SARS vaccine remains a public health priority given the possibility of reemergence. Several potential strategies can be considered for vaccination against SARS-CoV, including a whole-killed virus vaccine, a viral vectored vaccine, a recombinant subunit vaccine and DNAbased vaccines [15,16]. We have previously reported on the development of two SARS vaccine candidates, a whole-killed virus and two adenovirus-based vectors consisting of the SARS-CoV S and N proteins that induce serum neutralizing antibodies and inhibit pulmonary SARS-CoV replication [17].…”