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.
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.
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 
... 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 
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! 
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 
. 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 
. 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? 
. 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 
but seriously though, this tech has been around since the 1870s so its not like its brand new news...but still super exciting! 
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 
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 
Can't wait to see these vaccines get approved and start protecting people worldwide 
Also, codon pair deoptimization sounds like some fancy tech term... can anyone explain how it actually works? 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed (or rather, our masks on 
) for this one to become a reality ASAP!
... 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? 