We propose to develop a subunit vaccine for MERS-CoV, using a structure-based approach targeting conserved and functionally essential domains in the stalk region of the viral spike protein. MERS-CoV itself is a currently emerging virus in humans with strong links to camels, but an as-yet unproven animal reservoir. The most closely related viruses to MERS-CoV are found in bats. We expect our vaccine platform to be applicable and effective across a wide range of existing and emerging coronaviruses. As our system is based on expression in E. coli is it expected to be cost?effective, and our stalk-based approach is specifically designed to cover a range of distinct coronaviruses. However, it is important to note that our vaccine platform is highly flexible, with the antigen able to be re-engineered rapidly in the face of a novel coronavirus that may emerge, and for which the vaccine developed in this application is not effective.
We propose to develop a novel, cost-effective, and highly flexible vaccine platform to immunize against MERS- CoV. We will use an innovative subunit vaccine design approach, based on conserved epitopes in the coronavirus spike S2 fusion domain, express the vaccine platform in E. coli, and test both the serological and protective response in a mouse model. Due to the conserved nature of the structural region targeted, we anticipate that our stalk-based approach will be applicable to and effective across a wide range of existing and emerging coronaviruses.
