Engineering mRNA vaccine with broad-spectrum protection against SARS-cov-2 variants.

Herd immunity through mass vaccination is an effective method for preventing infectious diseases. However, the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, with their frequent mutations, largely evade the immune response and protection induced by COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we designed messenger RNAs encoding mutant epitopes of the spike protein shared among various COVID-19 variants. These mRNAs were encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles to formulate a vaccine named 'mPANVAX@COVID'. Post-vaccination, this approach elicited effective immunity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Delta and Omicron, and demonstrated good safety. This study suggests a novel direction for the design of broadly protective vaccines.