Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) whole inactivated virus (SARS-CoV-2 WIV)

Whole inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virions represent a traditional vaccine platform where the live virus is grown in cell culture and subsequently inactivated using chemical agents like beta-propiolactone (Gao et al., 2020, Science). This process preserves the structural integrity of the virion, including the Spike, Envelope, Membrane, and Nucleocapsid proteins, while rendering the virus unable to replicate. When administered, these inactivated particles are recognized by antigen-presenting cells, which process and present the viral antigens to T and B cells, triggering a broad polyclonal immune response (Zhang et al., 2021, The Lancet). Unlike mRNA or subunit vaccines that focus primarily on the Spike protein, whole inactivated virions provide a wider array of epitopes, potentially offering broader recognition of the virus. This approach has been utilized in several globally authorized COVID-19 vaccines, including CoronaVac and BBIBP-CorV (WHO, 2021). The primary therapeutic goal is the establishment of immunological memory to protect against future infection by the live virus.

Other names

Inactivated SARS-CoV-2Whole-virion inactivated COVID-19 vaccineSARS-CoV-2 antigensKilled SARS-CoV-2 virus

Induction of active immunity through the presentation of the complete repertoire of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (S, M, E, and N) to the host immune system.