A groundbreaking vaccine designed to combat three different deadly coronaviruses has shown significant promise in mouse studies, marking a substantial step forward in the development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine.
This promising vaccine is a single nanoparticle containing components of a previously successful vaccine that protected mice and primates against various variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
The Breakthrough in Pan-Coronavirus Protection
The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, reveals that this nanoparticle vaccine was effective in safeguarding mice against not only SARS-CoV-2 but also SARS-CoV-1, another strain of SARS coronavirus capable of infecting humans, and the MERS coronavirus, which has triggered deadly outbreaks worldwide.
Kevin O. Saunders, the senior author and associate director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “We are making important progress toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine.
These are pathogens that cause or have the potential to cause significant human infections and loss of life, and a single vaccine that provides protection could slow down or even prevent another pandemic.”
Building a Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine
The tri-valent vaccine was created using a nanoparticle loaded with a crucial fragment known as a receptor binding domain from each of the coronaviruses.
This fragment serves as a docking site on the virus, enabling it to infiltrate the body’s cells.
Importantly, it provides the immune system with enough information to construct an effective response against actual coronaviruses that may invade the body.
Previous studies on mice and primates demonstrated the effectiveness of an earlier version of the nanoparticle vaccine against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The researchers plan to conduct human trials next year for a version of the vaccine that includes immunogens targeting different SARS-CoV-2 strains, including those that have predominated since the initial outbreak in late 2019.
Expanding Protection Across Coronaviruses
In this latest research, the vaccine’s components were expanded to include an additional SARS-related virus and the MERS virus.
Laboratory experiments and tests on mice revealed that the vaccine generated inhibitory immune molecules, known as antibodies, against all three types of pathogenic human coronaviruses.
Crucially, mice that received the vaccine did not become ill when exposed to viruses resembling both SARS and MERS.
Saunders emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that a single vaccine that protects against both MERS and SARS viruses is an achievable goal.
Given that one MERS and two SARS viruses have infected humans in the last two decades, the development of universal coronavirus vaccines is a global health priority.”
Collaborative Efforts and Funding
This groundbreaking research was conducted in collaboration between Duke University and the Yale School of Medicine.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health, provided funding for the study.
The success of this pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate offers a glimmer of hope in the ongoing battle against deadly coronaviruses and highlights the potential for developing a universal vaccine that could provide protection against various strains of these viruses, reducing the risk of future pandemics.
If you care about long COVID, please read studies about the long mystery of long COVID: it’s not inflammation! and Long COVID: The uninvited guest that tires the brain and worsens moods.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about COVID infection and vaccination linked to heart disease, and results showing extracts from two wild plants can inhibit COVID-19 virus.
The research findings can be found in the journal Cell Reports.
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