Article
Author: Ciufoli, Federica ; Vergori, Alessandra ; Barra, Federica ; Cimini, Eleonora ; Milleri, Stefano ; Bacchieri, Antonella ; Ippolito, Giuseppe ; Plazzi, Maria M ; Matusali, Giulia ; Gentile, Michela ; Raggioli, Angelo ; Lapa, Daniele ; Notari, Stefania ; Vaia, Francesco ; Grassi, Germana ; Sommella, Andrea ; Gramigna, Giulia ; Girardi, Enrico ; Contino, Alessandra M ; Lanini, Simone ; Bordi, Licia ; Battella, Simone ; Antinori, Andrea ; Bordoni, Veronica ; Folgori, Antonella ; Camerini, Roberto ; Nicastri, Emanuele ; Bettini, Aurora ; Castilletti, Concetta ; Francalancia, Massimo ; Casetti, Rita ; Colloca, Stefano ; Colavita, Francesca ; Capone, Stefania ; Agrati, Chiara ; Vita, Serena ; Meschi, Silvia ; Sacchi, Alessandra
Abstract:Despite the successful deployment of efficacious vaccines and therapeutics, the development of novel vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 remains a major goal to increase vaccine doses availability and accessibility for lower income setting. We report here on the kinetics of Spike-specific humoral and T-cell response in young and old volunteers over 6 months follow-up after a single intramuscular administration of GRAd-COV2, a gorilla adenoviral vector-based vaccine candidate currently in phase-2 of clinical development. At all three tested vaccine dosages, Spike binding and neutralizing antibodies were induced and substantially maintained up to 3 months, to then contract at 6 months. Potent T-cell responses were readily induced and sustained throughout the study period, with only minor decline. No major differences in immune response to GRAd-COV2 vaccination were observed in the two age cohorts. In light of its favorable safety and immunogenicity, GRAd-COV2 is a valuable candidate for further clinical development and potential addition to the COVID-19 vaccine toolbox to help fighting SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.