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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Expression and Purification of Virus-like Particles for Vaccination
Published on: June 2, 2016
Current Status and Challenges of Vaccine Development for Seasonal Human Coronaviruses
Bin Zhang1,2, Yaoming Liu1,2, Tao Chen1,3
1Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China.
Insights
Seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause common colds but can lead to severe illness. This review explores HCoV vaccines, finding cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV-2 offers potential for broad-spectrum protection against coronaviruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are significant causes of respiratory illness, particularly in vulnerable groups.
- Despite typically mild symptoms, HCoVs possess antigenic drift potential and can cause severe disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and antigenic determinants of seasonal HCoVs.
- To summarize advances in seasonal HCoV vaccine development across diverse platforms.
- To explore cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal HCoV vaccines for broad-spectrum protection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of literature on seasonal HCoV pathogenesis, epidemiology, and vaccine development.
- Analysis of preclinical and clinical data on vaccine cross-reactivity.
- Examination of viral genomic architecture and antigenic determinants.
Main Results:
- Seasonal HCoVs exhibit antigenic drift and potential for severe disease, necessitating vaccine development.
- Various vaccine platforms (inactivated, mRNA, VLP, etc.) are being explored for seasonal HCoV protection.
- Cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal HCoV vaccines targets conserved epitopes, supporting broad-spectrum strategies.
Conclusions:
- Developing broad-spectrum vaccines targeting conserved epitopes is crucial for protection against seasonal HCoVs and future zoonotic threats.
- Further research into pathogenesis and innovative vaccine strategies integrating humoral and cellular immunity is needed.
- Pan-coronavirus vaccines hold promise for protecting vulnerable populations and mitigating pandemic risks.
Abstract:
Seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1, circulate globally in an epidemic pattern and account for a substantial proportion of common cold cases, particularly in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Although clinical manifestations are typically mild, these HCoVs exhibit ongoing antigenic drift and have demonstrated the potential to cause severe diseases in certain populations, underscoring the importance of developing targeted and broad-spectrum vaccines. This review systematically examines the pathogenesis, epidemiology, genomic architecture, and major antigenic determinants of seasonal HCoVs, highlighting key differences in receptor usage and the roles of structural proteins in modulating viral tropism and host immunity. We summarize recent advances across various vaccine platforms, including inactivated, DNA, mRNA, subunit, viral-vectored, and virus-like particle (VLP) approaches, in the development of seasonal HCoV vaccines. We specifically summarize preclinical and clinical findings demonstrating variable cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal HCoV vaccines. Evidence indicates that cross-reactive humoral and cellular immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination predominantly target conserved epitopes of structural proteins, supporting strategies that incorporate conserved regions to achieve broad-spectrum protection. Finally, we discuss current challenges in pathogenesis research and vaccine development for seasonal HCoVs. We propose future directions for the development of innovative pan-coronavirus vaccines that integrate both humoral and cellular antigens, aiming to protect vulnerable populations and mitigate future zoonotic spillover threats.
