Yanfang Zhang, Xinrui Kang, Sheng Liu, Pu Han, Wenwen Lei, Ke Xu, Zepeng Xu, Zhengrong Gao, Xuemei Zhou, Yaling An, Yuxuan Han, Kefang Liu, Xin Zhao, Lianpan Dai, Peiyi Wang, Guizhen Wu, Jianxun Qi, Kun Xu, George F Gao
SARS-CoV-2 variants with severe immune evasion are a major challenge for COVID-19 prevention, especially the circulating Omicron XBB/BQ.1.1/BF.7 strains. Thus, the next-generation of broad-spectrum vaccines are urgently needed. Previously, we developed a COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine, ZF2001, based on the RBD-homodimer as the immunogen. To adapt SARS-CoV-2 variants, we developed chimeric RBD-heterodimers to induce broad immune responses. In this study, we further explored the concept of tandem RBD homotrimer and heterotrimer...
September 18, 2023: PLoS Pathogens