Feline Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Vaccine
The present invention provides new vaccines for felines and ferrets to aid in reducing shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by infected felines or ferrets. Methods of making and using the vaccines alone or in combinations with other protective agents are also provided.
1 . An immunogenic composition comprising a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) alphavirus RNA replicon particle that encodes a first SARS-CoV-2 protein antigen.
2 . The immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 protein antigen is a spike protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
3 . The immunogenic composition of claim 2 , wherein the VEE alphavirus RNA replicon particle further encodes a second antigen selected from the group consisting of a second SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that originates from a different strain of SARS-CoV-2 than the first SARS-CoV-2 spike protein originates from, a feline calicivirus (FCV) capsid protein, a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) envelope protein, and a rabies virus glycoprotein (G).
4 . The immunogenic composition of claim 2 , that comprises one or more additional VEE alphavirus RNA replicon particles which encodes a second SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that originates from a different strain of SARS- CoV-2 than the first SARS-CoV-2 spike protein originates from.
5 . The immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 spike protein comprises an amino acid sequence comprising at least 98% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
6 . The immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 98% identity with the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
7 . A vaccine to aid in reducing shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in a feline or a ferret due to an infection of SARS-CoV-2 in the feline or the ferret comprising the immunogenic composition of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
8 . The vaccine of claim 7 , that further comprises at least one non-SARS-CoV-2 antigen for eliciting protective immunity to a non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.
9 . The vaccine of claim 8 , wherein the non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is an inactivated or an attenuated non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.
10 . The vaccine of claim 7 , that further comprises a VEE alphavirus RNA replicon particle comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one antigen or immunogenic fragment thereof that originates from the non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.
11 . The vaccine of claim 8 , wherein the non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is selected from the group consisting of feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), feline rhinotracheitis virus (FVR), Chlamydophila felis , rabies virus, canine influenza virus (CIV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper (CDV), and any combination thereof.
12 . The vaccine of claim 11 , wherein the non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is selected from the group consisting of FCV, FeLV, FPLV, FVR, Chlamydophila felis , rabies virus, canine influenza virus (CIV), and any combination thereof.
13 . The vaccine of claim 11 , wherein the non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is selected from the group consisting of canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper (CDV), and the combination thereof.
14 . The vaccine of claim 7 , that comprises an adjuvant.
15 . The vaccine of claim 7 , that is a non-adjuvanted vaccine.
16 . A method of immunizing a mammal against SARS-CoV-2 comprising administering to the mammal an immunologically effective amount of the vaccine of claim 7 ; wherein the mammal is selected from the group of a feline and a ferret.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the mammal is a feline.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the feline is a domestic cat.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the mammal is a ferret.