Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of MERS CoV, NL140422, and HKU4 spike protein nanoparticle vaccines
Nanoparticle vaccines displaying full spike ectodomains from MERS-CoV, NL140422, and HKU4 elicited high IgG and variable neutralization in mice; the MERS-CoV vaccine fully blocked MERS-CoV replication in hDPP4 transgenic mouse lungs and nasal turbinates, while NL140422 and HKU4 vaccines partially reduced lung viral loads, supporting their inclusion in pan‑Merbecovirus vaccine strategies.
Why it mattersMERS-CoV nanoparticle vaccine prevented lung replication in hDPP4 mice, guiding prioritization of MERS-CoV antigen for pan‑Merbecovirus vaccine.