SARS-CoV-2 rS antigen

SARS-CoV-2 rS antigen is a recombinant protein subunit vaccine component consisting of the full-length, prefusion-stabilized spike (S) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Developed primarily by Novavax (as NVX-CoV2373) and Sanofi/GSK, this antigen is produced using baculovirus expression systems in insect cells (Sf9). The protein is engineered with two proline substitutions (2P) to lock it in the prefusion conformation and a mutated furin cleavage site to enhance stability and immunogenicity. When formulated with an adjuvant (such as Novavax's saponin-based Matrix-M or GSK's AS03), the rS antigen assembles into polysorbate-80-stabilized nanoparticles that mimic the viral structure, inducing potent neutralizing antibody and T-cell responses against the viral spike protein to prevent COVID-19.

Brand names

NuvaxovidCovovaxVidPrevtyn BetaSKYCovione

Other names

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinrS proteinSpike protein subunitSARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (recombinant)