Vaccine with Improved Immunogenicity Against Mutant Coronaviruses

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a novel vaccine technology against coronaviruses, particularly addressing SARS-CoV-2 and its multiple evolving variants (such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, and Omicron). The core innovation is an isolated nucleic acid molecule (DNA or mRNA) that encodes a 'variant' spike protein with a carefully designed set of mutations. These mutations are selected from multiple known variants, and when included together in one spike protein, they enable the vaccine to induce a strong immune response that neutralizes not just the original Wuhan strain but also multiple variants. The invention further includes methods for making and administering such vaccines and compositions that can be mRNA-based, viral vector-based, or protein-based.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Vaccination of human populations to provide broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 and current/future variants of concern, as single or combination vaccines.
• Rapidly updating and deploying vaccines in response to emerging coronavirus variants while maintaining effectiveness.
• Immunizing at-risk individuals, healthcare workers, and vulnerable groups against a broad spectrum of coronavirus variants.
• Development of multivalent booster shots for previously vaccinated individuals who need expanded protection.
• Potentially applicable to veterinary or animal health for cross-species coronaviruses.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides broader immune protection against multiple coronavirus variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Omicron, etc.) through one vaccine composition.
• Reduces the need for frequent vaccine updates as new variants emerge, potentially simplifying public health vaccination strategies.
• May induce strong neutralizing antibody responses to both original and new virus strains, potentially preserving or improving vaccine efficacy over time.
• Flexibility in vaccine formulation (mRNA, viral vector, or recombinant protein) supports multiple manufacturing and delivery platforms.
• Prefusion spike protein stabilization improves immunogenicity and vaccine stability, enhancing manufacturing and distribution efficiency.
• Can be combined with other variant-specific vaccine genes for synergistic effects, supporting tailored immunization protocols especially in immunocompromised or high-risk populations.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a variant spike (spike-like) protein of a corona virus or fragment thereof wherein the variant spike protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least two amino acid differences over SARS-CoV-2 "Wuhan Sequence", and wherein said variant spike protein comprises amino acid differences over SARS-CoV-2 "Wuhan Sequence" from at least two of the B.1.1.7 (alpha-variant), B.1.351 (beta-variant), B.1.1.28 (gamma-variant), B1.617.2 (delta-variant), C.37 (lambda-variant), and B 1.1.529 (omicron-variant) spike proteins. The variant preferably comprises an amino acid sequence comprising at least four amino acid differences over SARS-CoV-2 "Wuhan Sequence" being capable of inducing an immunogenic response in a human subject against a human coronavirus and variants thereof. In further aspects, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition in the form of a vaccine for use in the prevention and/or reduction of risk of a human coronavirus infection. The invention further relates to the medical use and corresponding methods of administering a vaccine of the invention in the reduction of risk of a human coronavirus infection and/or prevention of a medical condition associated with coronavirus, in particular SARS-COV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 variants.