Kinetically activating nanovaccine mimicking multidimensional immunomodulation of natural infection for broad protection against heterologous viruses in animal models

Abstract

Immunity by vaccination can protect human against heterologous viruses. However, protective abilities of artificial vaccines are still weaker than natural infections. Here we develop a kinetically engineered vaccine (KE-VAC) that mimics the multidimensional immunomodulation in natural infections via dynamic activation of antigen presenting cells with masked TLR7/8 agonist and sustained supplies of antigens and adjuvants to lymph nodes, leading to follicular helper T and germinal centre B cell activation in vaccinated mice. KE-VAC demonstrates superior efficacy than traditional alum and mRNA vaccines, achieving a 100% survival rate with increased neutralizing antibodies titers and polyfunctional CD8⁺ T cells, recognizing heterologous SARS-CoV-2 variants, and inducing broad and long-term protection against multiple strains of influenza viruses. Prime/boost vaccination with KE-VAC also protect aged ferrets from severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection, with no virus detected in any organs at day 6 p.i. The efficacy of KE-VAC across various pathogens thus highlights its potential as an effective vaccine against emerging infectious risks.