Research progress on DNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 outbreak poses a serious threat to global public health. The research and development of COVID-19 vaccines around the world are moving forward with various technical tactics in a positive way. After the traditional live-attenuated virus vaccine, inactive virus vaccine and genetic engineering subunit vaccine, nucleic acid vaccine is called "the third generation vaccine technology" in the industry, including DNA vaccine and mRNA vaccine. Each has its own advantages. This article reviews the development history of DNA vaccine. With over ten years of improvement, the delivery efficiency of DNA vaccine has been greatly improved, especially in the treatment of emerging infectious diseases including SARS, highly pathogenic influenza, MERS, ZIKA and Rift Valley fever, the preliminary clinical benefit of which has been verified. This review aims to discuss the research and development of DNA vaccines against pandemics, especially the design, optimization, safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 DNA vaccines, and suggest the direction of improvement of DNA vaccine technology.