A new approach to a Covid-19 nasal vaccine shows early promise

Scientists in Germany claim to have made significant strides in developing a nasal vaccine that can effectively combat Covid-19 by targeting the initial site of infection in the body - the nose and throat.

According to recent research published in the journal Nature Microbiology, two doses of the new vaccine administered to hamsters proved to be "sterilizing immunity" against the virus, blocking its ability to replicate in the upper airways and preventing illness.

The breakthrough is attributed to a live but weakened form of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. This approach was first explored in the 1870s by scientists who used heat and chemicals to weaken pathogens for vaccine development purposes.

In this new study, researchers utilized a technique called codon pair deoptimization, which hobbles the virus's genetic material to make it less effective without causing illness.

The German team found that their nasal vaccine performed better in hamster studies compared to other COVID-19 vaccines, achieving broader and more potent immunity against the entire coronavirus.

This is an exciting development as Covid-19 remains a pressing global health concern, with new variants continuing to emerge. The World Health Organization has reported over four nasal vaccines currently in late-stage testing for use in people.

While progress has been slow on this front, researchers believe that developing mucosal immunity can be key to preventing respiratory infections like Covid-19.

omg u gotta feel so relieved when scientists finally find something that works like weve been waiting 4eva 2 hear about a new vaccine thats actually effective its not like theyre giving up on finding one but slow progress doesnt make it any less amazing the fact that its targeting the nose and throat is genius cuz thats where covid starts spreading hopefully this means we can finally breathe easy again

just saw this news about germany's new covid vaccine ... i think its cool they're trying a different approach targeting the nose and throat where the virus first hits . I mean, we've been seeing so many variants and breakthroughs in covid research lately, it's like scientists are getting closer to a solution . The idea of developing mucosal immunity is really interesting - I wonder if this could also be applied to other respiratory infections

Wow! This is so cool! I've seen how bad Covid-19 was and it's amazing that scientists are working on a vaccine that targets the nose and throat. I mean, who would've thought we'd have a live but weakened form of the coronavirus to help us? Interesting how they used codon pair deoptimization to make the virus less effective without causing illness. It's like they found a way to hack into the virus's own code!

omg u guys!! i just read this article about a new nasal vaccine that's supposed to make covid-19 a thing of the past lol remember when we were still using flip phones and thinking the iPad was gonna be our next big thing? anyway, back to the future... so it turns out german scientists have been working on this vaccine for ages (literally) since the 1870s! they're basically just messing with the virus's DNA to make it weaker and less effective. sounds like science fiction but apparently it's real life now and it's actually showing some promising results in hamster studies! can't wait to see if it'll work for humans too

This development is a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19 . The fact that this nasal vaccine can target the initial site of infection and provide "sterilizing immunity" is a major breakthrough . It's fascinating to see how scientists have revisited an old technique from the 1870s and adapted it for modern use . The fact that this approach outperforms other COVID-19 vaccines in hamster studies is a testament to the power of codon pair deoptimization . With new variants emerging all the time, I think developing mucosal immunity through nasal vaccines like this one could be a key strategy for preventing respiratory infections . Can't wait to see how this technology translates to human trials soon

They're getting closer, but we gotta remember, hamsters aren't humans . Still, a nasal vaccine that actually works is a big deal. We need something that can keep us safe, especially with new variants popping up all the time . I just hope this tech gets translated into human trials soon and not just more late-stage testing .

I'm kinda surprised they're focusing on the nose and throat as the initial site of infection now? Like, didn't we already know that was where it all started? Anyway, this new vaccine stuff sounds promising, especially if it's more effective than other ones out there. The hamster test results are pretty cool, I guess, but what about human trials? Can't wait to see how it goes in the real world...

I'm still reeling from the idea of a nasal vaccine ... it's mind-blowing to think that our noses and throats are the entry points for so many viruses, including Covid-19. It raises questions about what we're letting into our bodies without even realizing it . The fact that scientists have found a way to manipulate the virus's genetic material to make it less effective is fascinating, but also unsettling - like playing with fire . I wonder if this breakthrough will lead us down a path where we can better understand and prepare for future pandemics .

OMG y'all! so they're saying a vaccine thats targeted at the nose and throat could be a game changer against covid? Like, its kinda logical that if we can get it to replicate less in our upper airways then we'd reduce the risk of getting sick. And using hamsters as test subjects is a pretty cool approach - I mean, who needs human trials when you've got furry little critters that'll do? but seriously though, this tech has been around since the 1870s so its not like its brand new news...but still super exciting!

idk if i'm excited or just concerned about another vaccine ... think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. it sounds promising that they've found a way to target the nose and throat, but what about long-term side effects? also, hamsters aren't exactly humans, so can we really expect this to work on us too? not to mention, four nasal vaccines in late-stage testing? that's a lot of options . i'm all for preventing respiratory infections, but let's take a step back and see how this one plays out before we start hyping it up

idk why scientists think we need a vaccine just for the nose lol whats next? a covid pill that you only take when you have a cold but seriously tho, if this nasal vaccine works out it could be game changer for people with compromised immune systems or those who are already sick

OMG I'm totally stoked about this nasal vaccine breakthrough!!! It's amazing how scientists are getting so close to combating Covid-19, especially with the whole nasal delivery thing... think of it as a breath of fresh air . The fact that they used codon pair deoptimization is like genius-level problem-solving – who knew that could be effective against coronaviruses? Can't wait to see these vaccines get approved and start protecting people worldwide

I'm not sure about these nasal vaccine breakthroughs... Scientists are still using hamsters as test subjects? How reliable is the result? And what's with the weakened form of the virus - isn't that just a way to skirt around safety concerns? Also, codon pair deoptimization sounds like some fancy tech term... can anyone explain how it actually works?

This is a game-changer. I've got a friend who's still struggling with the aftereffects of Covid and it gives me hope that we might finally see some real progress soon . The fact that they're targeting the initial site of infection in the body makes sense, but what really excites me is the potential for mucosal immunity to prevent respiratory infections like this. Fingers crossed that these vaccines make it to people soon and we can start seeing some real impact

just think about it, they've basically created a vaccine that targets the nose and throat first... what if it works on humans too? wouldn't it be awesome if we could just get vaccinated via the nose instead of needles? it's all about finding new ways to fight covid-19, and this one sounds like a game changer!

I'm so stoked about this new nasal vaccine! I mean, we've been waiting for like forever for a solution to this Covid thing and it sounds like scientists in Germany are on the case . Targeting the initial site of infection at the nose and throat makes total sense - we should've thought of that one ourselves lol . The fact that hamsters were used as test subjects is kinda genius , I mean who needs human trials when you can start with something smaller? And the fact that it's a live but weakened form of the virus means it should be pretty effective against all the new variants coming out . Let's keep our fingers crossed (or rather, our masks on ) for this one to become a reality ASAP!

I'm thinking of the good ol' polio days... remember when we had those Salk vaccine shots? And now, scientists in Germany are working on a nasal vaccine that's all about targeting the nose and throat! It sounds like they're using some kinda old-school technique to weaken the virus... I mean, codon pair deoptimization is a mouthful . Anyway, it's cool that their hamster test results were promising - but what really gets me is how we still need four nasal vaccines in late-stage testing . It just feels like we're reinventing the wheel, you know? Back in my day, we relied on those trusty old vaccines and hygiene practices to stay healthy...

So its about time we see some innovation on the Covid-19 vaccine front . A nasal vaccine targeting the nose and throat makes total sense - we all know how easily the virus spreads through the air, right? And the fact that it's showing promise in hamster studies is definitely a positive sign .

I'd love to see more research on this approach, especially when it comes to human trials. Four nasal vaccines in late-stage testing sounds like progress, but we can't afford to get ahead of ourselves - we need to make sure these vaccines are safe and effective before rolling them out .

It's also interesting to think about the potential for mucosal immunity - could this be a game-changer in preventing respiratory infections? Either way, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see some real breakthroughs on this front soon .

I'm not surprised they're finally making a breakthrough with this vaccine ... think about it, we've all known about the nasal cavity being a weak point for viruses and it's crazy that scientists took this long to figure out. The whole "sterilizing immunity" thing sounds too good to be true but I guess that's what makes it so fascinating ... and why is everyone suddenly interested in mucosal immunity? is it because they've finally cracked the code on controlling Covid-19 or is there something more going on here?