Scientists in Germany say they've successfully created a nasal vaccine that can effectively prevent Covid-19 infections by targeting the virus's entry point in the nose and throat. In hamster studies, two doses of this live but weakened nasal vaccine demonstrated "sterilizing immunity" and prevented illness, achieving what was previously thought to be an impossible goal.
The vaccine works by boosting mucosal immunity, beefing up immune defenses in the tissues that line the upper airways, where the virus enters the body. This approach mimics the process of a natural infection, making it more effective than traditional vaccines that only target specific proteins on the surface of the virus.
Researchers used a technique called codon pair deoptimization to weaken the genetic material in the virus, rendering it harmless while still allowing the immune system to recognize and fight it off. This method is based on modifying the genetic code of the virus so that cells have difficulty translating its instructions.
The results are promising, with the nasal vaccine outperforming other vaccines in animal studies. The vaccine also previews the entire coronavirus for the body, making it possible to create immune weapons against a wider range of targets.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before this vaccine can be widely used. "It's still a long way off," said Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic. "We should be developing a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived."
At least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently in late-stage testing in humans, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker. Another nasal vaccine, developed by Codagenix, is nearing completion of human studies.
While some live vaccines have shown promise, others have proven to be less effective due to compromised immunity. Researchers will need to carefully consider these factors when evaluating the safety and efficacy of this new nasal vaccine.
The development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine that can induce mucosal immunity has the potential to revolutionize our approach to Covid-19 prevention and treatment. As researchers continue to work towards this goal, they must remain vigilant in their pursuit of a safe and effective solution for the ongoing pandemic.
The vaccine works by boosting mucosal immunity, beefing up immune defenses in the tissues that line the upper airways, where the virus enters the body. This approach mimics the process of a natural infection, making it more effective than traditional vaccines that only target specific proteins on the surface of the virus.
Researchers used a technique called codon pair deoptimization to weaken the genetic material in the virus, rendering it harmless while still allowing the immune system to recognize and fight it off. This method is based on modifying the genetic code of the virus so that cells have difficulty translating its instructions.
The results are promising, with the nasal vaccine outperforming other vaccines in animal studies. The vaccine also previews the entire coronavirus for the body, making it possible to create immune weapons against a wider range of targets.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before this vaccine can be widely used. "It's still a long way off," said Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic. "We should be developing a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived."
At least four nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently in late-stage testing in humans, according to the World Health Organization's vaccine tracker. Another nasal vaccine, developed by Codagenix, is nearing completion of human studies.
While some live vaccines have shown promise, others have proven to be less effective due to compromised immunity. Researchers will need to carefully consider these factors when evaluating the safety and efficacy of this new nasal vaccine.
The development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine that can induce mucosal immunity has the potential to revolutionize our approach to Covid-19 prevention and treatment. As researchers continue to work towards this goal, they must remain vigilant in their pursuit of a safe and effective solution for the ongoing pandemic.
. We were all like "what's the point of hiking?" but ended up getting lost in these insane beautiful trails. I swear, we saw like 5 deer and a mountain goat that looked so cool it was almost like a meme 
. Anyway, what's going on with this nasal vaccine? Sounds super interesting, but also kinda weird how they did it 
...
imagine bein able to get infected with covid just to build immunity 
but seriously, the fact that this one is weaker than the virus yet still works is kinda genius 
codon pair deoptimization? sounds like some sci-fi movie stuff 
the thing i'm really hyped about though is the possibility of creating immune weapons against other targets...like corona's cousins or whatever 
i mean it's about time we got a vaccine that targets the whole nasal thing instead of just the surface protein... those hamster studies are kinda impressive but like what's next? human trials? pls tell me they're doing human trials lol. and yeah, "it's still a long way off" said no one ever 
seriously though, this could be game changing for Covid prevention and treatment so fingers crossed it works out 
The way it boosts mucosal immunity is genius 
, and the fact that it previews the entire coronavirus is wild 
. Like, imagine being able to create immune weapons against a range of targets 
. It's a game-changer for Covid-19 prevention & treatment. 
But yeah, more testing needs to be done, no doubt 
. Still, I'm all about that pan-coronavirus vaccine life 
! Can't wait to see what the future holds 
Still, the thought of having more tools in our belt to fight this pandemic is exciting. Maybe one day soon, we'll be able to look back on Covid-19 like it was just a minor inconvenience. 
. But yeah, we need to wait and see how it plays out in human trials before getting too excited 
. I mean, four nasal vaccines are already in testing, so this isn't like a game-changer overnight 
. Still, if it's safe and effective, that'd be awesome 
. Just gotta keep an eye on the science behind it to make sure we're not skipping any steps 
The idea that it boosts mucosal immunity and can recognize a wider range of targets is super promising. And the fact that it's based on modifying the genetic code to make the virus harmless but still recognizable by the immune system is genius! 
It's like they're basically hacking into the virus's own instructions to defeat it. 
Of course, more testing is needed, but I'm excited about the potential for this vaccine to change the game when it comes to Covid-19 prevention and treatment. Fingers crossed it becomes a reality soon! 
. It's already showing promising results in hamster studies, where 2 doses of this live but weakened vaccine gave "sterilizing immunity" and prevented illness 
. The vaccine works by boosting immune defenses in the upper airways, which is a cool approach because it mimics natural infection 
. There's already 4 other nasal vaccines in human trials, and we need to see how they pan out too 
.
It makes sense to boost mucosal immunity in the nose and throat, since that's where Covid-19 usually gets in. 
And if it can prevent illness without being super harsh on the immune system... that's a win in my book! 
Safety first, right? 
! creating a vaccine that boosts mucosal immunity is literally a game changer 
... no more worrying about the virus entering your body through your nose 
. it's crazy how scientists used codon pair deoptimization to weaken the virus while still making it recognizable to our immune system 