Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination alone and as a heterologous booster against SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 recently swept the globe and showed high level of immune evasion. Here, we generate an Omicron-specific lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mRNA vaccine candidate, and test its activity in animals, both alone and as a heterologous booster to WT mRNA vaccine. Our Omicron-specific LNP-mRNA vaccine elicits strong antibody response in vaccination-naïve mice. Mice that received two-dose WT LNP-mRNA show a > 40-fold reduction in neutralization potency against Omicron than WT two weeks post boost, which further reduce to background level after 3 months. The WT or Omicron LNP-mRNA booster increases the waning antibody response of WT LNP-mRNA vaccinated mice against Omicron by 40 fold at two weeks post injection. Interestingly, the heterologous Omicron booster elicits neutralizing titers 10-20 fold higher than the homologous WT booster against Omicron variant, with comparable titers against Delta variant. All three types of vaccination, including Omicron alone, WT booster and Omicron booster, elicit broad binding antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 WA-1, Beta, Delta variants and SARS-CoV. These data provide direct assessments of an Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination in vivo, both alone and as a heterologous booster to WT mRNA vaccine.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 06, 2022
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-022-30878-4

Entities

People

  • Albert Ko
  • Andrew Mcnamara
  • Angie Sanchez
  • Bridget L Menasche
  • Chenxiang Lin
  • Craig B Wilen
  • Kazushi Suzuki
  • Lei Peng
  • Luojia Yang
  • Madison S Strine
  • Nathan D. Grubaugh
  • Paul A Clark
  • Paul A. Renauer
  • Ping Ren
  • Qiancheng Xiong
  • Qianqian Lin
  • Renata Filler
  • Sidi Chen
  • Zhenhao Fang

Organizations

  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Analytical Mechanics
  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology