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Updated: Sep 16, 2026
Protocol for Recombinant RBD-based SARS Vaccines: Protein Preparation, Animal Vaccination and Neutralization Detection
Published on: May 2, 2011
Comparison of Wild Type DNA Sequence of Spike Protein from SARS-CoV-2 with Optimized Sequence on The Induction of
Sheng Jiang1,2, Shuting Wu1, Gan Zhao3
1Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College (SHMC), Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Genetic optimization of Nucleic Acid immunogens is important for potentially improving their immune potency. A COVID-19 DNA vaccine is in phase III clinical trial which is based on a promising highly developable technology platform. Here, we show optimization in mice generating a pGX-9501 DNA vaccine encoding full-length spike protein, which results in induction of potent humoral and cellular immune responses, including neutralizing antibodies, that block hACE2-RBD binding of live CoV2 virus in vitro. Optimization resulted in improved induction of cellular immunity by pGX-9501 as demonstrated by increased IFN-γ expression in both CD8+ and CD4 + T cells and this was associated with more robust antiviral CTL responses compared to unoptimized constructs. Vaccination with pGX-9501 induced subsequent protection against virus challenge in a rigorous hACE2 transgenic mouse model. Overall, pGX-9501 is a promising optimized COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate inducing humoral and cellular immunity contributing to the vaccine's protective effects.
