tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
. 2026 May 5;123(18):e2519857123.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.2519857123. Epub 2026 Apr 29.
An Ad5-vectored platform generating self-assembling VLPs elicits potent mucosal immunity against influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2
Yuan Zhang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Caiqian Wang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yanhong Zheng[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Feiyu Chen[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yaya Feng[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Lingying Fang[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Zongmei Wang[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Ming Zhou[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Zhen F Fu[SUP] 1 2 3 4 [/SUP], Ling Zhao[SUP] 1 2 3 5 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Integrating complementary vaccine modalities is essential for combating emerging pathogens. Although the recent mRNA-VLP hybrids enable spontaneous virus-like particles (VLPs) self-assembly, thereby enhancing immunogenicity, they fail to elicit robust pulmonary mucosal immunity against respiratory pathogens. Here, we developed Ad5-Envp-VLP, a chimeric adenoviral platform enabling spontaneous in vivo assembly of envelope protein-displaying VLPs using advanced technology that recruits ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) via the EABR (ESCRT and ALIX-binding region). Compared with the intramuscular route, intranasal administration of a single-dose Ad5-HA-VLP confers long-lasting protection against both homologous and heterologous influenza A strains. Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses reveal that intranasal delivery of Ad5-HA-VLP recruits and functionally reprograms lung innate immune cells, promoting antigen presentation and driving robust mucosal secretory IgA (sIgA) secretion and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Similarly, intranasal delivery of Ad5-S-VLP elicits potent cross-neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Importantly, intranasal immunization with Ad5-S-HA-VLP (coexpressing S- and HA-VLPs) generates dual influenza and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, alongside pulmonary antigen-specific sIgA, confirming Ad5-Envp-VLP as a promising "single-dose multiplexed mucosal vaccine" against respiratory pathogens. Further extended applications show that Ad5-RVDG-VLP also induces broad protective immunity in mouse, dog, and cat models, verifying its feasibility as an efficient rabies vaccine. Collectively, the Ad5-Envp-VLP platform represents a universal and versatile mucosal vaccine strategy, leveraging pulmonary delivery of vectors that encode in vivo-assembling VLPs to concurrently elicit robust mucosal and systemic immunity against a wide spectrum of pathogens.
Keywords: broad-spectrum protection; in vivo self-assembly; mucosal delivery; universal vaccine platform; virus-like particles.
. 2026 May 5;123(18):e2519857123.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.2519857123. Epub 2026 Apr 29.
An Ad5-vectored platform generating self-assembling VLPs elicits potent mucosal immunity against influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2
Yuan Zhang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Caiqian Wang[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yanhong Zheng[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Feiyu Chen[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yaya Feng[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Lingying Fang[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Zongmei Wang[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Ming Zhou[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Zhen F Fu[SUP] 1 2 3 4 [/SUP], Ling Zhao[SUP] 1 2 3 5 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 42054358
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2519857123
Integrating complementary vaccine modalities is essential for combating emerging pathogens. Although the recent mRNA-VLP hybrids enable spontaneous virus-like particles (VLPs) self-assembly, thereby enhancing immunogenicity, they fail to elicit robust pulmonary mucosal immunity against respiratory pathogens. Here, we developed Ad5-Envp-VLP, a chimeric adenoviral platform enabling spontaneous in vivo assembly of envelope protein-displaying VLPs using advanced technology that recruits ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) via the EABR (ESCRT and ALIX-binding region). Compared with the intramuscular route, intranasal administration of a single-dose Ad5-HA-VLP confers long-lasting protection against both homologous and heterologous influenza A strains. Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses reveal that intranasal delivery of Ad5-HA-VLP recruits and functionally reprograms lung innate immune cells, promoting antigen presentation and driving robust mucosal secretory IgA (sIgA) secretion and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Similarly, intranasal delivery of Ad5-S-VLP elicits potent cross-neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Importantly, intranasal immunization with Ad5-S-HA-VLP (coexpressing S- and HA-VLPs) generates dual influenza and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, alongside pulmonary antigen-specific sIgA, confirming Ad5-Envp-VLP as a promising "single-dose multiplexed mucosal vaccine" against respiratory pathogens. Further extended applications show that Ad5-RVDG-VLP also induces broad protective immunity in mouse, dog, and cat models, verifying its feasibility as an efficient rabies vaccine. Collectively, the Ad5-Envp-VLP platform represents a universal and versatile mucosal vaccine strategy, leveraging pulmonary delivery of vectors that encode in vivo-assembling VLPs to concurrently elicit robust mucosal and systemic immunity against a wide spectrum of pathogens.
Keywords: broad-spectrum protection; in vivo self-assembly; mucosal delivery; universal vaccine platform; virus-like particles.