Comparative Evaluation of Three Nanoparticle Vaccines Targeting the Prefusion F Protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the immunogenic potential of three different nanoparticle (NP) platforms for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion (pre-F) protein vaccines.

Methods: Three NP platforms-24-mer ferritin (Fe), 60-mer lumazine synthase (LuS), and 120-subunit I53-50-were engineered to display RSV pre-F trimers (DS2) via SpyTag-SpyCatcher (ST-SC) conjugation (DS2-Fe, DS2-LuS) or direct genetic fusion (DS2-I53-50). The assembled particles were characterized using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), SDS-PAGE, electron microscopy (EM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Antigenicity was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with prefusion-specific neutralizing antibodies. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated in BALB/c mice following a prime-boost immunization, with analyses of humoral and cellular immune responses as well as post-challenge protection.

Results: All three NP platforms successfully displayed the DS2 antigen while preserving its prefusion conformation. Notably, DS2-I53-50 demonstrated superior assembly quality and particle homogeneity relative to DS2-Fe and DS2-LuS. Compared to soluble DS2, all three DS2-NPs exhibited enhanced binding affinity (7- to 12-fold increase) to prefusion-specific antibodies (D25, AM14). In vivo, all DS2-NPs elicited higher levels of RSV-specific neutralizing antibodies and induced a more balanced Th1/Th2 immune response, with DS2-I53-50 generating significantly greater neutralizing antibody titers (1.7- to 2.4-fold increase) against both prototype RSV strains (LONG, 18537) and circulating genotypes (ON1, BA9). Immune cell profiling further revealed that all three DS2-NPs enhanced germinal center formation, facilitated follicular dendritic cell recruitment, and expanded memory T cell populations. Following RSV challenge, all DS2-NPs vaccines conferred significant protection, evidenced by accelerated weight recovery, reduced lung viral loads, and mitigated pulmonary pathology. Among them, DS2-I53-50 provided the most robust protection, achieving a 3.7-log reduction in viral titers and minimal lung pathology.

Conclusion: NP platforms significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of RSV DS2 antigens, with DS2-I53-50 eliciting the strongest immune responses and protective efficacy. These findings underscore the potential of rationally designed NP-based vaccines for RSV.