ADENOVIRUS VECTOR VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19: MECHANISM OF ACTION

Immune cells
Muscles are
arrive faster to
preferred The viral vector vaccine is injected intramuscularly into a healthy
process foreign Foreign
injection person Pain, redness,
antigens substance can
sites as they swelling at
have greater cause local
Foreign vaccine 2nd dose after 28 days recommended to strengthen the immune injection site
blood supply tissue
material drains response (to a level exceeding the immune response in patients (Transient)
inflammation
than other away faster recovered from Covid-19), boosting vaccine efficacy especially in
body tissues (minimizing local older individuals
reactions)
Adenovirus surface antigens interact with human cellular
receptors, allowing viral entry into human cell via endocytosis

Adenovirus vector travels to cell nucleus, merges with nuclear envelope and injects its DNA (including the spike protein DNA) into the nucleus

RNA polymerases in the nucleus transcribe the viral DNA, making messenger RNA (mRNA) for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

mRNA in transported back into the cytosol & translated by ribosomes naturally found there, producing full length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Cell-mediated Humoral
immunity immunity
Spike protein degraded by intracellular enzymes into Natural cellular processes release spike protein
fragments components from the cell into the bloodstream

Spike protein fragments bound by MHC Class I proteins
MHC Class I proteins bring spike protein fragments to
the human cell surface
MHC Class I proteins present spike protein fragments to
naïve CD8+ T cell
Spike protein components are engulfed by antigen
presenting cells (dendritic cells, B cells, macrophages),
fragmented, & bound to unique MHC Class II proteins
MHC Class II proteins bring spike protein fragments to
the antigen presenting cell’s surface, to present them to
circulating naïve CD4+ (helper) T cells

Naïve CD8+ T cells that able to bind to the spike protein- Some naïve helper T cells are able to successfully bind
MHC Class I protein complex become activated, and to the spike protein-MHC Class II protein complexes
travel to the lymphatic system to mature
 Some of these T-Cells Some T cells can Activated helper T
mature into cytotoxic T mature into memory T cells specific to the Binding activities these spike-
cells that now recognize cells (stimulated by viral spike protein protein specific helper T cells
the SARS-CoV-2 spike cytokines released by secrete cytokines to
protein helper T cells) stimulate immune Activated helper T cell interacts
activity with naïve B cells in lymphatic tissue
Cytotoxic T-cells bind to Memory T cells travel
human cells expressing to lymphatic tissue, Systematic cytokine
spike protein or spike awaiting activation release (systematic Some B cells Some B cells mature into
protein fragments (e.g. from exposure to spike reactions like fever, mature into plasma memory B cells specific to
future COVID-19 protein in the future chills, fatigue, cells that produce SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
infection) myalgias) (Transient) IgG antibodies
More rapid cell- against the viral Future exposure to spike
Cytotoxic T cells release mediated immune spike protein protein re-activates memory B
enzymes perforating response to future cell in lymphatic tissue &
infected cell, causing cell SARS-CoV-2 infection Antibodies to spike creates plasma cells,
death to occur (immunity) protein mark SARS- producing antibodies more
CoV-2, allowing rapidly
Immune system can now immune system to
more quickly identify and destroy virus Rapid humoral immune
destroys human cells response to future SARS-CoV-
showing signs of COVID- Eradication of 2 infection (immunity)
19 infection SARS-CoV-2 in
extracellular
compartments