An Overview of Adenovirus Vector-based Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Adenovirus vectors have been employed to develop a vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for curtailing the Covid-19 pandemic spreading. Many different viral vectors have been mainly targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein as an antigen. Spike (S) protein is comprised of S1 and S2 subunits, in which the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S1 is responsible for recognizing and engaging with its host cellular receptor protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), S2 accounts for membrane fusion of virus and host cell. Chimpanzee adenovirus was also used as a vector vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 (ChAdSARS-CoV-2-S) by intramuscular injection, and intranasal administration has been tested. Adenovirus vector-based vaccines are the most advanced, with several vaccines receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). It was shown that rhesus macaques were protected from SARS-CoV-2 challenge after a month of being vaccinated with ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S. A single intranasal or two intramuscular ChAd-SARSCoV-2-S vaccines could induce humoral antibodies and T cell responses to protect the upper and lower respiratory tract against SARS-CoV-2. As the effectiveness was demonstrated in non-human primates, ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-Sa potential option for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. However, detecting novel more transmissible and pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 variants added concerns about the vaccine efficacy and needs monitoring. Moreover, the cause of recently documented rare cases of vaccine indicated immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. This review article provided details for the adenovirus vector vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 in humans and tried to provide solutions to the adenovirus vector hemagglutinin issue.