SARS-CoV-2 immunization strategies to enhance protective immunity with reduced risk of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) [Added supplement: COVID-19 Variant Supplement]

A pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged from China late in 2019 is currently underway resulting in worldwide severe morbidity and mortality. Thus, a safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed to fight virus propagation. In this project, after identifying and engineering the immunogens, we will translate towards SARS-CoV-2 a versatile, potent and immunostimulating nanotechnology platform recently developed in our laboratory, which not only will adequately present the vaccine materiel to the host immune system but also enhance its immunogenicity, while eliminating the risk associated with the so-called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The gathered investigative team integrates a unique set of complementary knowledge including biophysics, protein engineering, virology and immunology, which is perfectly suited to rapidly address the health challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has the necessary expertise and state-of-the-art infrastructure to conduct the proposed research.