Development of an engineered extracellular vesicles-based vaccine platform for combined delivery of mRNA and protein to induce functional immunity.

mRNA incorporated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) became a new class of vaccine modality for induction of immunity against COVID-19 and ushered in a new era in vaccine development. Here, we report a novel, easy-to-execute, and cost effective engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs)-based combined mRNA and protein vaccine platform (EV(X-M+P) vaccine) and explore its utility in proof-of-concept immunity studies in the settings of cancer and infectious disease. As a first example, we engineered EVs, natural nanoparticle carriers shed by all cells, to contain ovalbumin mRNA and protein (EV(OvaM+P) vaccine) to serve as cancer vaccine against ovalbumin-expressing melanoma tumors. EV(OvaM+P) administration to mice with established melanoma tumors resulted in tumor regression associated with effective humoral and adaptive immune responses. As a second example, we generated engineered EVs that contain Spike (S) mRNA and protein to serve as a combined mRNA and protein vaccine (EV(SpikeM+P) vaccine) against SARS-CoV-2 infection. EV(SpikeM+P) vaccine administration in mice and baboons elicited robust production of neutralizing IgG antibodies against RBD (receptor binding domain) of S protein and S protein specific T cell responses. Our proof-of-concept study describes a new platform with an ability for rapid development of combination mRNA and protein vaccines employing EVs for deployment against cancer and other diseases.