Abstract: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. The inventors produced an antibody that is directed against a surface antigen (i.e. CD40) of an antigen presenting cell (i.e. dendritic cell) wherein the heavy chain was conjugated to the receptor-binding domain of the Sars-Cov-2 spike protein for its use as vaccine. In particular, the inventors show that said vaccine induces circulating Ab-secreting hu-B cells, elicits S-specific IgG+ hu-B cells, elicits the expansion of central memory CD4+ hu-T cells and the emergence of effector memory CD4+ T cells, elicits the expansion of central memory CD8+ hu-T cells at and the emergence of effector memory CD8+ T cells at and finally induces Stem-cell like memory hu-CD8+ T cells.

Abstract: Septic shock is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. Previous studies have highlighted the immunosuppressive protein GILZ (glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper) as a regulator of innate and adaptive immune responses. To go deeper in the understanding of GILZ protective role during sepsis, the inventors studied in vivo the consequences of a targeted overexpression of GILZ in monocytes and macrophages (M/M) in animal models of sepsis. In addition, they monitored the expression of GILZ in M/M of both patients with septic shock and septic mice. In particular, the inventors show that the overexpression of GILZ limited to M/M leads to an increase survival rate in mice with CLP-induced sepsis. These results provided new evidence for a central role of GILZ in M/M on the pathophysiology of septic shock, and pinpoint the fact that GILZ would be suitable for predicting survival time of patient suffering from sepsis.