Scientists in Germany claim to have developed a nasal vaccine that can effectively shut down Covid-19 infections at the very start of their journey into the body. In animal studies, two doses of this live but weakened form of the virus demonstrated "sterilizing immunity" and prevented illness, a highly sought-after outcome during the pandemic.
The vaccine was tested on hamsters, where it successfully blocked the virus from replicating in the upper airways. The researchers believe that this approach could be a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19, as it targets the mucosal immunity β the tissues lining the upper airways β where the virus initially enters the body.
This new vaccine takes an old approach to vaccination and has been updated for the modern era. Scientists have manipulated the genetic material of the virus to make it harder for cells to translate, essentially rendering it harmless while still allowing the immune system to recognize and fight it off.
The results are promising, with two doses of the nasal vaccine outperforming other vaccines tested in hamsters. The researchers also note that this approach can potentially provide a stronger and more long-lasting immunity than traditional shots, which reside primarily in the blood.
While caution is warranted, experts say that the results look encouraging and that further testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. At least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently undergoing late-stage testing in humans, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker.
It's a promising development in the fight against Covid-19, but there are still challenges to overcome. The nasal vaccines in use in China and India rely on harmless adenoviruses to ferry their instructions into cells, and while they may be effective, their effectiveness data has not been published yet.
Other nasal vaccines are also being developed, including one that uses a live but weakened version of the virus, similar to the German vaccine. These studies will likely provide more insight into the potential of this approach against Covid-19.
The development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived has been hailed as a vital goal in the fight against Covid-19. With new vaccines on the horizon, scientists are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for this promising approach.
The vaccine was tested on hamsters, where it successfully blocked the virus from replicating in the upper airways. The researchers believe that this approach could be a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19, as it targets the mucosal immunity β the tissues lining the upper airways β where the virus initially enters the body.
This new vaccine takes an old approach to vaccination and has been updated for the modern era. Scientists have manipulated the genetic material of the virus to make it harder for cells to translate, essentially rendering it harmless while still allowing the immune system to recognize and fight it off.
The results are promising, with two doses of the nasal vaccine outperforming other vaccines tested in hamsters. The researchers also note that this approach can potentially provide a stronger and more long-lasting immunity than traditional shots, which reside primarily in the blood.
While caution is warranted, experts say that the results look encouraging and that further testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. At least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently undergoing late-stage testing in humans, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker.
It's a promising development in the fight against Covid-19, but there are still challenges to overcome. The nasal vaccines in use in China and India rely on harmless adenoviruses to ferry their instructions into cells, and while they may be effective, their effectiveness data has not been published yet.
Other nasal vaccines are also being developed, including one that uses a live but weakened version of the virus, similar to the German vaccine. These studies will likely provide more insight into the potential of this approach against Covid-19.
The development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived has been hailed as a vital goal in the fight against Covid-19. With new vaccines on the horizon, scientists are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for this promising approach.