The Pursuit of a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: Aiming for Broad Protection

Four years after the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 threat, people worldwide exhibit varying levels of immunity due to factors such as vaccination and exposure to different virus strains. Vaccines have played a crucial role in reducing severe COVID-19 cases. However, the emergence of new virus variants is diminishing their effectiveness, potentially leading to more severe illness. Most vaccines target the spike protein of the virus, which undergoes frequent changes. As a result, vaccines lose efficacy against newly emerging variants. To address this challenge, scientists are striving to develop a vaccine capable of providing broad protection against evolving virus strains. One promising approach is to incorporate parts of the virus that remain stable across different variants into the vaccine formulation. This strategy aims to offer comprehensive protection against various virus types and minimize the need for frequent vaccine updates. To achieve this goal, our research group is exploring innovative methods to effectively present these stable virus components to the immune system. One such method involves utilizing tiny particles that mimic a plant virus in vaccine development. These particles have demonstrated success in stimulating the immune system to produce protective antibodies against diverse virus variants. Building upon this progress, we are now proposing the development of a new vaccine that combines elements of the current virus with stable components. Our efforts are supported by compelling preliminary data, positioning them to develop a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine capable of providing broad protection against any variant, addressing a critical medical need. This research is a collaborative endeavor between Dr. Baz, an expert in understanding the virus's impact on animals, Dr Gaillet, an expert in production pf proteins in cell culture and Dr. Leclerc, who brings expertise in developing vaccines using a specific virus-like particle platform.