Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pandemics

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Vaccination continues to be the most effective method for controlling COVID-19 infectious diseases. Nonetheless, SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to evolve and emerge, resulting in significant public concerns worldwide, even after more than 2 years since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to better understand how different COVID-19 vaccine platforms work, why SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge, and what options for improving COVID-19 vaccines can be considered to fight against SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pandemics.

Area covered

Here, we reviewed the innate immune sensors in the recognition of SARS-CoV-2 virus, innate and adaptive immunity including neutralizing antibodies by different COVID-19 vaccines. Efficacy comparison of the several COVID-19 vaccine platforms approved for use in humans, concerns about SARS-CoV-2 variants and breakthrough infections, and the options for developing future COIVD-19 vaccines were also covered.

Expert opinion

Owing to the continuous emergence of novel pathogens and the reemergence of variants, safer and more effective new vaccines are needed. This review also aims to provide the knowledge basis for the development of next-generation COVID-19 and pan-coronavirus vaccines to provide cross-protection against new SARS-CoV-2 variants and future coronavirus pandemics.

KEYWORDS:

• SARS-CoV-2: ACE-2
• TMPRSS-2
• nucleic-acid-based vaccine
• universal vaccine

Article highlights

• SARS-CoV-2 infection of the respiratory epithelium leads to an imbalance in vascular homeostasis by hijacking ACE2 in the elderly population and patients with comorbid diseases.

• Genomic materials and structural components of SARS-CoV-2 are recognized by pathogen-recognition receptors.

• It is important to develop safer and effective vaccines that are easily accessible to immunocompromised individuals and young children, exploiting the expertise in producing multiple vaccine technologies.

• ‘Universal vaccine’ approaches would induce broadly neutralizing antibodies and innate and cellular immunity, controlling SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pandemics.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Literature search and review T.P., H.H., S.M., S.G.K., S.S., Y.H.K., H.K., E.K., S.Y., S.K., and H.H.; writing—original draft preparation, E.K., S.Y., S.K., and H.H.; writing—review and editing, E.K., S.Y., S.K., and H.H.

Additional information

Funding

This preparation of review research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2019R1I1A1A01061532), and partially by NIH/NIAID grant AI154656 (S.M.K).