SARS coronavirus vaccines protect against different coronaviruses

 Tanushree Dangi, Nicole Palacio, Sarah Sanchez, Jacob Class, Lavanya Visvabharathy, Thomas Ciucci, Igor Koralnik, Justin Richner, Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.01.446491

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?].

PDF: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.01.446491v1.full.pdf

Abstract

Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have shown efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, it is unclear if they can also protect against other coronaviruses that may infect humans in the future. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in humans elicits cross-reactive antibodies against other coronaviruses. Our studies in mice demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination protects against a common cold coronavirus, and that SARS-CoV-1 vaccination protects against SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, infection with a common cold coronavirus also conferred enhanced protection from subsequent infections with other coronaviruses. Mechanistically, both T cells and antibodies mediated cross-protection. This is the first direct demonstration that coronavirus-specific immunity can confer heterologous protection in vivo, providing a rationale for universal coronavirus vaccines.

Highlights

1. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination elicits cross-reactive antibody against other coronaviruses in humans.

2. COVID-19 patients generate cross-reactive antibody against other coronaviruses.

3. A SARS-CoV-1 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2.

4. Prior coronavirus infections improve immune protection following heterologous coronavirus challenges.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.01.446491v1