Comparative immunogenicity analysis of intradermal versus intramuscular administration of SARS-CoV-2 RBD epitope peptide-based immunogen In vivo

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption of global health and devastated the socio-economic conditions all over the world. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus that belongs to the family of Coronaviruses which are known to cause a wide spectrum of diseases both in humans and animals. One of the characteristic features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the high reproductive rate (R 0 ) that results in high transmissibility of the virus among humans. Vaccines are the best option to prevent and control this disease. Though, the traditional intramuscular (IM) route of vaccine administration is one of the effective methods for induction of antibody response, a needle-free self-administrative intradermal (ID) immunization will be easier for SARS-CoV-2 infection containment, as vaccine administration method will limit human contacts. Here, we have assessed the humoral and cellular responses of a RBD-based peptide immunogen when administered intradermally in BALB/c mice and side-by-side compared with the intramuscular immunization route. The results demonstrate that ID vaccination is well tolerated and triggered a significant magnitude of humoral antibody responses as similar to IM vaccination. Additionally, the ID immunization resulted in higher production of IFN-γ and IL-2 suggesting superior cellular response as compared to IM route. Overall, our data indicates immunization through ID route provides a promising alternative approach for the development of self-administrative SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates.

Preclinical safety evaluation of intradermal SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (Vero cells) administration in macaques

“…Another study in mice showed that the second dose of protein immunization, based on intradermal immunization with a novel inactivated coronavirus vaccine, protected mice from challenge infection with a mutant strain [11] . Based on the above analysis, we hypothesized that intradermal immunization might provide a new approach or strategy to solve the problem that anti-novel coronavirus antibodies are not durable or that variant strains can escape immune protection [18] , [19] , [20] . Because rhesus monkeys are similar to humans in anatomy and organ function and their biological characteristics are reliable, genetic background is relatively stable, adaptability is strong, and background information is abundant, they are widely used in pharmacology and toxicology studies [21] , [22] .…”

Intradermal Immunization of SARS-CoV-2 Original Strain Trimeric Spike Protein Associated to CpG and AddaS03 Adjuvants, but Not MPL, Provide Strong Humoral and Cellular Response in Mice

“…In addition, it has been shown that the administration of a SARS-CoV-2 epitope-based immunogen through the i.d. route is capable of generating a humoral response and neutralizing activity similar to that of i.m., despite showing a higher capacity of inducing IFN-γ and IL-2 producing CD4 + or CD8 + T-cells [12].…”

Recent Advances of Emerging Spleen‐Targeting Nanovaccines for Immunotherapy

“…[ 13 ] The efficacy of vaccines is highly dependent on the routes and sites of administration, where the initial immune response embarks. [ 14 ] Conventional vaccination strategies such as intramuscular or subcutaneous (SC) administration generate prolonged adjuvant and antigen depots at the injection site to recruit APCs (e.g., Langerhans cells) in the skin, [ 15 ] which may induce local inflammatory nodules or undesired hypersensitivity. [ 16 ] Thereafter, antigen‐carrying APCs travel to the draining LNs (dLNs) via afferent lymph vessels to evoke naïve T and B cells in their specific sub‐regions, [ 17 ] which is the main rate‐limiting step in the vaccination process.…”