Abstract: A CVB viral expression vector comprising a PIV5 W3A viral genome that contains mutations at amino acid residue S157 or S156 in the P/V gene and a deletion of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene of the PIV5 W3A viral genome, wherein the amino acid substitution at amino acid residue S157 or S156 comprises a substitution of serine (S) to phenylalanine (F) or asparagine (N) and wherein the SH gene has a deletion of the SH open reading frame or a deletion of an entire SH gene transcript unit. The CVB viral expression vector wherein the vector expresses a heterologous polypeptide comprising a SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), and/or nucleocapsid (N) and/or membrane (M) proteins, RSV fusion protein (F) or other antigens.

Abstract: The present invention provides constructs of the parainfluenza virus type-5 (PIV5) virus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 envelope spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants for use as safe, stable, efficacious, and cost-effective vaccines against COVID-19.