Q&A (Convacell)

What is the mechanism of action of the vaccine?
Vaccination with Convacell® generates humoral and cellular immunity that prevents the development of coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On the surface of droplets of excipients emulsion, N protein is presented to monocytes attracted from the blood flow due to a local increase in the level of cytokines. Antigen-bearing cells migrate to draining lymph nodes with activation of innate and adaptive immune cells. The activation of natural killers in combination with specific antibodies triggers the lysis of infected cells. The nucleocapsid protein (N) is conservative and slightly susceptible to mutational changes.
Are there any reported changes in the vaccine efficiency against new coronavirus strains?

Convacell® was created on the basis of the recombinant N protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which itself is highly conservative, i.e. it slightly differs in new strains of the virus from the original strain identified in Wuhan, China.


The vast majority of epitopes in the N proteins of different strains of SARS-CoV-2 remain identical, therefore, an almost identical immune response can be expected when a person vaccinated with Convacell® encounters various strains of the SARS-CoV-2.


What is the difference of Convacell® from other coronavirus vaccines?

For example, in Sputnik V, the adenoviral vector has an “embedded” fragment of the coronavirus S protein.  The S protein helps the coronavirus to penetrate into the body cells.


Convacell® is a new generation product targeted to N protein.  It is more conservative, i.e. less susceptible to changes during the virus evolution.


The data obtained showed that Convacell® generates a stable immunity in humans, which prevents the development of coronavirus infection. It also facilitates:


  • increase in titers of specific antibodies against N protein;
  • proliferation of specific T cells;
  • antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. 


This means that the Convacell® is more effective against a large number of strains.


Will the vaccine be used abroad?

Yes, the Saint Petersburg Institute of Vaccines and Sera of FMBA of Russia, plans to transfer the Convacell® production technology to another production site in Latin America – Instituto Latinoamericano de Biotecnología MECHNIKOV (the Republic of Nicaragua) – and supply the products to the countries of the region.


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