Safety and durability of the immune response after vaccination with the heterologous schedule of anti-COVID-19 vaccines SOBERANA®02 and SOBERANA® Plus in children 3-18 years old.

Background: The heterologous three-dose schedule of the protein subunit anti-COVID-19 SOBERANA®02 and SOBERANA® Plus vaccines has proved its safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in pediatric population, but durability of immunogenicity is not yet dilucidated. This study reports the safety and durability of the humoral and cellular responses in children and adolescents 5-7 months after receiving the heterologous vaccine schedule of SOBERANA® 02 and SOBERANA® Plus.

Methods: Children participating in a phase I/II clinical trial were followed-up for 5-7 months after the last dose.

Comparative Immune Response after Vaccination with SOBERANA 02 and SOBERANA plus Heterologous Scheme and Natural Infection in Young Children.

(1) Background: In children, SARS-CoV-2 infection is mostly accompanied by mild COVID-19 symptoms. However, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and long-term sequelae are often severe complications. Therefore, the protection of the pediatric population against SARS-CoV-2 with effective vaccines is particularly important.

Open-label phase I/II clinical trial of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (FINLAY-FR-2) in combination with receptor binding domain-protein vaccine (FINLAY-FR-1A) in children.

Objectives: To evaluate a heterologous vaccination scheme in children 3-18 years old (y/o) combining two SARS-CoV-2r- receptor binding domain (RBD)protein vaccines.

Methods: A phase I/II open-label, adaptive, and multicenter trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of two doses of FINLAY-FR-2 (subsequently called SOBERANA 02) and the third heterologous dose of FINLAY-FR-1A (subsequently called SOBERANA Plus) in 350 children 3-18 y/o in Havana Cuba. Primary outcomes were safety (phase I) and safety/immunogenicity (phase II) measured by anti-RBD immunoglobulin (Ig)G enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), molecular and live-virus neutralization titers, and specific T-cells response.

Safety and immunogenicity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 heterologous scheme with SOBERANA 02 and SOBERANA Plus vaccines: Phase IIb clinical trial in adults.

Background: SOBERANA 02 has been evaluated in phase I and IIa studies comparing homologous versus heterologous schedule (this one, including SOBERANA Plus). Here, we report results of immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of SOBERANA 02 in a two- or three-dose heterologous scheme in adults.

Method: Phase IIb was a parallel, multicenter, adaptive, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial.

Safety and immunogenicity of anti-SARS CoV-2 vaccine SOBERANA 02 in homologous or heterologous scheme: Open label phase I and phase IIa clinical trials.

Background: SOBERANA 02 is a COVID-19 vaccine based on SARS-CoV-2 recombinant RBD conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT). SOBERANA Plus antigen is dimeric-RBD. Here we report safety and immunogenicity from phase I and IIa clinical trials using two-doses of SOBERANA 02 and three-doses (homologous) or heterologous (with SOBERANA Plus) protocols.

Safety and immunogenicity of the FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine in COVID-19 convalescent participants: an open-label phase 2a and double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2b, seamless, clinical trial.

Background: A phase 1, clinical trial to evaluate FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine in COVID-19 convalescent individuals was completed. Here, we report results of the phase 2, clinical trial.

Methods: We studied 450 convalescent participants with a history of asymptomatic, mild, or moderate COVID-19 at the National Institute of Hematology and Immunology and the National Centre for Sexual Education in Havana, Cuba.

Repeat-dose and local tolerance toxicity of SARS-CoV-2 FINLAY-FR-02 vaccine candidate in Sprague Dawley rats.

This study evaluates safety of FINLAY-FR-02, a vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 based on the recombinant receptor binding domain conjugated to tetanus toxoid, in a preclinical, repeat-dose toxicity and local tolerance study. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated to three experimental groups: control (receiving physiological saline solution); placebo (receiving all vaccine components except antigens) and vaccine group (receiving three doses of the vaccine candidate, 37.5 µg of RBD) administered intramuscularly in hind limbs at 24 h intervals during three days.

A randomized, double-blind phase I clinical trial of two recombinant dimeric RBD COVID-19 vaccine candidates: Safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity.

Background: The Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the target for many COVID-19 vaccines. Here we report results for phase I clinical trial of two COVID-19 vaccine candidates based on recombinant dimeric RBD (d-RBD).

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, phase I clinical trial in the National Centre of Toxicology in Havana.

A single dose of SARS-CoV-2 FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine enhances neutralization response in COVID-19 convalescents, with a very good safety profile: An open-label phase 1 clinical trial.

Background: As a first step towards a vaccine protecting COVID-19 convalescents from reinfection, we evaluated FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine in a clinical trial.

Methods: Thirty COVID-19 convalescents aged 22-57 years were studied: convalescents of mild COVID-19, asymptomatic convalescents, both with PCR-positive at the moment of diagnosis; and individuals with subclinical infection detected by viral-specific IgG. They received a single intramuscular injection of the FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine (50 µg of the recombinant dimeric receptor binding domain).

Synthetic, Zwitterionic Sp1 Oligosaccharides Adopt a Helical Structure Crucial for Antibody Interaction.

The zwitterionic serotype 1 polysaccharide (Sp1) is an important anchor point for our immune system to act against streptococcal infections. Antibodies can recognize Sp1 saccharides, and it has been postulated that Sp1 can elicit a T-cell-dependent immune reaction as it can be presented by MHC-II molecules. To unravel the molecular mode of action of this unique polysaccharide we here describe the chemical synthesis of a set of Sp1 fragments, ranging from 3 to 12 monosaccharides in length.

Design and Biological Assembly of Polyester Beads Displaying Pneumococcal Antigens as Particulate Vaccine.

can cause life-threatening infections mostly in infants, children, and elderly people. Capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccines provide serotype-dependent protection against infections but fail to protect against new emerging serotypes. To overcome these limitations, pneumolysin (Ply), a serotype-independent and conserved protein was selected.

Safety and immunogenicity of the Cuban heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy infants. Results from a double-blind randomized control trial Phase I.

Background: Cuba has a new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate (PCV7-TT). This study evaluates the safety and immunogenicity in healthy infants using 2p+1 vaccination schedule.

Methods: A phase I, controlled, randomized and double blind clinical trial was designed.

Bioengineered polyester beads co-displaying protein and carbohydrate-based antigens induce protective immunity against bacterial infection.

The efficacy of protein and carbohydrate antigens as vaccines can be improved via particulate delivery strategies. Here, protein and carbohydrate antigens used in formulations of vaccines against Neisseria menigitidis were displayed on in vivo assembled polyester beads using a combined bioengineering and conjugation approach. An endotoxin-free mutant of Escherichia coli was engineered to produce translational fusions of antigens (Neisseria adhesin A (NadA) and factor H binding protein (fHbp) derived from serogroup B) to the polyhydroxybutyrate synthase (PhaC), in order to intracellularly assemble polyester beads displaying the respective antigens.

Self-assembled particulate PsaA as vaccine against infection.

is a human pathogen responsible for the majority of childhood pneumonia and media otitis cases worldwide. The diversity of its capsular polysaccharides (CPS) results in more than 91 serotypes of which at least 23 are virulent. Various CPS conjugated to immunogenic carrier proteins are currently licensed and provide protection against the infection caused by the respective serotypes but not against new and emerging virulent serotypes.

Influence of the Co-Administration of Heptavalent Conjugate Vaccine PCV7-TT on the Immunological Response Elicited by VA-MENGOC-BC® and Heberpenta®-L in Rabbits.

Finlay Vaccine Institute is developing a new heptavalent conjugate vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae. As infants are the target population, PCV7-TT will be necessarily co-administered with other vaccines, and then, the interactions represent a concern. The aim of this work is to evaluate the possible immunological interferences in rabbits as animal experimental model.