Researchers at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) have developed a new type of COVID-19 vaccine that could provide long-term protection, reducing the need for frequent booster shots.
Unlike existing COVID-19 vaccines, which offer strong protection initially but tend to lose their effectiveness over time, this new vaccine has shown the ability to maintain its protective power for an extended period in animal studies.
This innovative vaccine uses a harmless virus called murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a vector to deliver the coronavirus spike protein into the body.
MCMV is a virus that can only infect mice, making it safe for humans since it cannot replicate in human cells.
The spike protein is a key part of the coronavirus, which it uses to enter and infect human cells.
By introducing the spike protein into the body using the MCMV vector, the vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize and fight the virus if a person is exposed to COVID-19 in the future.
The idea of using a virus as a vector for vaccines isn’t new. Vector vaccines work by using a harmless virus as a vehicle to deliver important parts of a harmful pathogen, like the coronavirus, into the body.
This helps the immune system learn to recognize and fight the virus without being exposed to the actual disease.
In this case, the MCMV vector has shown impressive results in studies with mice. Researchers found that just one dose of this vaccine was enough to produce a strong and long-lasting immune response.
Even six months after vaccination, the levels of antibodies that protect against COVID-19 remained high.
In addition to antibodies, the vaccine also stimulates the production of CD8+ T cells, which are immune cells that recognize and destroy infected cells.
The study, which included collaboration with research institutions like the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin and the University of Rijeka in Croatia, was published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
The researchers are excited about the potential of this vaccine to provide longer-lasting protection against COVID-19, which could help reduce the frequency of booster shots.
In summary, this new MCMV-based vaccine offers a promising alternative to current COVID-19 vaccines, potentially providing durable protection with just one dose.
This could be a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19, making it easier to keep the virus under control in the long term.
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Source: KSR.
