%0 Journal Article
%A Alcolea Alcolea, Pedro José
%A Larraga, Jaime
%A Rodríguez-Martín, Daniel
%A Alonso, Ana
%A Loayza, Francisco
%A Rojas, José M.
%A Ruiz García, Silvia
%A Louloudes Lázaro, Andrés
%A Carlón, Ana B.
%A Sánchez Cordón, Pedro José
%A Nogales Altozano, Pablo
%A Redondo, Natalia
%A Manzano García, Miguel
%A Lozano Borregón, Daniel
%A Palomero, Jesús
%A Montoya, María
%A Vallet Regí, María Dulce Nombre
%A Martín García, Verónica
%A Sevilla, Noemí
%A Larraga, Vicente
%T Non-replicative antibiotic resistance-free DNA vaccine encoding S and N proteins induces full protection in mice against SARS-CoV-2
%D 2022
%@ 1664-3224
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73418
%X SARS-CoV-2 vaccines currently in use have contributed to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding, the high mutation rate, fundamentally in the spike glycoprotein (S), is causing the emergence of new variants. Solelyutilizing this antigen is a drawback that may reduce the efficacy of these vaccines. Herein we pre ent a DNA vaccine candidate that contains the genes encoding the S and the nucleocapsid (N) proteins implemented into the nonreplicative mammalian expression plasmid vector, pPAL. This plasmid lacks antibiotic resistance genes and contains an alternative selectable marker forproduction. The S gene sequence was modified to avoid furin cleavage (Sfs). Potent humoral and cellular immune responses were observed in C57BL/6J mice vaccinated with pPAL-Sfs + pPAL-N following a prime/boost regimen by the intramuscular route applying in vivo electroporation. The immunogen fully protected K18-hACE2 mice against a lethal dose (105 PFU) of SARS-CoV-2. Viral replication was completely controlled in the lungs, brain, and heart of vaccinated mice. Therefore, pPAL-Sfs + pPAL-N is a promising DNA vaccine candidate for protection from COVID-19.
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