# Rapid, single-dose coronavirus vaccines via DNA-launched nanoparticles and genetic adjuvants for durable anti-coronavirus immunity

> **NIH NIH P01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2022 · $1,107,120

## Abstract

Project 2 Summary
There is an urgent need to develop vaccines which induce robust and lasting immunity against current and
emerging pathogenic coronaviruses (CoVs). These vaccines must also be immunogenic in elderly patients as
they are at increased risk of severe coronavirus disease. Many novel CoVs with pandemic potential remain
poised for human transmission, and elderly patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality, emphasizing
the need for predesigned next-generation vaccination platforms with robust preclinical data indicating increased
potency and breadth against structurally related CoVs. This team has recently described the design and study
of in vivo self-assembling nanoparticles for generation of more potent and rapid humoral and cellular responses
in both the HIV and influenza models. Here we propose to apply this proof-of-principal immunization design
strategy in the CoV model system. Under this program we will develop and characterize a series of structurally
tuned, genetically adjuvanted, synthetic DNA (synDNA)-launched nanoparticle (DLNP) immunogens based on
our recent designs for the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen. We previously reported on the ability of DLNPs to induce
robust immunity compared to traditional synDNA and protein-in-adjuvant vaccine formulations. In collaboration
with Project 1 we will evaluate the capacity of these immunogens to foster potent and durable immunity against
SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. In summary, the goal of this project is to define the effect of manipulating
epitope valency, size, and adjuvant environment on self-assembling DLNP vaccine on the magnitude,
functionality, and half-life of responses in young and aged mouse models. These experiments will provide
mechanistic insight into the effects of epitope manipulation on vaccine-induced responses and define the
parameters which induce robust and durable anti-CoV immunity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10328141
- **Project number:** 1P01AI165066-01
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID B. WEINER
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,107,120
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-22 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10328141

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10328141, Rapid, single-dose coronavirus vaccines via DNA-launched nanoparticles and genetic adjuvants for durable anti-coronavirus immunity (1P01AI165066-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10328141. Licensed CC0.

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