Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccine-Induced Protection against SARS-CoV-2 in Humans

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 infection spread rapidly throughout the world and appears to involve in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. SARS-CoV-2 is attached to host cells via binding to the viral spike (S) proteins and its cellular receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Consequently, the S protein is primed with serine proteases TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4, which facilitate the fusion of viral and cellular membranes result in the entry of viral RNA into the host cell. Vaccines are urgently required to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and aid in the recovery to pre-pandemic levels of normality. The long-term protective immunity is provided by the vaccine antigen (or pathogen)-specific immune effectors and the activation of immune memory cells that can be efficiently and rapidly reactivated upon pathogen exposure. Research efforts aimed towards the design and development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are increasing. Numerous coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have passed late-stage clinical investigations with promising outcomes. This review focuses on the present state and future prospects of COVID-19 vaccines research and development, with a particular emphasis on immunological mechanisms of various COVID-19vaccines such as adenoviral vector-based vaccines, mRNA vaccines, and DNA vaccines that elicits immunological responses against SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans.