Researchers at Duke have successfully engineered a comprehensive vaccine against coronavirus, demonstrating its effectiveness against three perilous strains in studies involving mice. This accomplishment sets the stage for prospective human clinical trials and signifies a meaningful stride towards the development of a universal coronavirus vaccine, fulfilling an urgent global healthcare requirement.
Experiments on mice corroborate that a prospective vaccine could neutralize strains of both SARS and MERS coronaviruses.
A vaccine under development that is capable of targeting three fatal coronaviruses has shown promise in initial trials using mice, accentuating the feasibility of a universal vaccine against coronavirus.
The scholarly work, executed by specialists at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, has recently been published in the scientific journal Cell Reports. This cutting-edge nanoparticle-based vaccine is an enhancement over a previous version, which conferred protection to mice and primates from diverse strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
In the research at hand, the vaccine safeguarded mice from SARS-CoV-1, another variant of the SARS coronavirus that can affect humans, as well as a MERS coronavirus known for causing sporadic but deadly outbreaks globally.
“We are advancing significantly in the pursuit of a universally effective coronavirus vaccine,” commented Kevin O. Saunders, Ph.D., the associate director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and the study’s senior author. “These pathogens either cause or have the capability to cause substantial human infections and mortality. A single, protective vaccine could decelerate or even forestall another pandemic.”
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Vaccine Formulation and Preliminary Achievements
Saunders and his team designed the trivalent vaccine utilizing a nanoparticle imbued with a crucial segment known as a receptor-binding domain from each of the coronaviruses under study. This fragment—a site on the virus enabling it to penetrate the body’s cellular mechanisms—supplies sufficient data for the immune system to construct an effective counteraction against any genuine coronaviruses that infiltrate the body.
In prior research involving both mice and primates, the team demonstrated that an earlier version of this nanoparticle vaccine was efficacious against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2. Clinical trials on humans for a version incorporating immunogens from diverse SARS-CoV-2 strains, including those predominant since the outbreak’s inception in late 2019, are scheduled for the coming year.
Broadening the Vaccine’s Reach
The present endeavor extends the vaccine’s components to cover an extra SARS-related virus and a MERS virus. Laboratory and mouse studies revealed that the candidate vaccine produced inhibitory immunological substances known as antibodies against all three hazardous types of human coronavirus.
Notably, the vaccinated mice did not exhibit illness when exposed to viruses resembling either SARS or MERS.
“This research validates the concept that a single vaccine offering protection against both MERS and SARS viruses is within reach,” Saunders stated. “Considering that one MERS and two SARS viruses have infected humans in the past two decades, creating a universal coronavirus vaccine is a matter of global health importance.”
References
The study, titled “Vaccine-mediated protection against Merbecovirus and Sarbecovirus challenge in mice,” authored by David R. Martinez, Alexandra Schäfer, Tyler D. Gavitt, Michael L. Mallory, Esther Lee, Nicholas J. Catanzaro, Haiyan Chen, Kendra Gully, Trevor Scobey, Pooja Korategere, Alecia Brown, Lena Smith, Robert Parks, Maggie Barr, Amanda Newman, Cindy Bowman, John M. Powers, Erik J. Soderblom, Katayoun Mansouri, Robert J. Edwards, Ralph S. Baric, Barton F. Haynes, and Kevin O. Saunders, was published on 18 October 2023 in Cell Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113248
In addition to Saunders, the study’s authors comprise lead author David R. Martinez, currently with the Yale School of Medicine, and an ensemble of contributing researchers.
The research was financially supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a subdivision of the National Institutes of Health (U54 CA260543, P01 AI158571).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about universal coronavirus vaccine
What is the primary aim of the research conducted by Duke researchers?
The primary aim is to develop a comprehensive, or universal, vaccine effective against multiple dangerous strains of coronavirus. The research has successfully demonstrated this efficacy in mouse trials and signifies a significant step towards future human clinical trials.
Who conducted the study and where was it published?
The study was conducted by experts at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and was published in the scientific journal Cell Reports.
What strains of coronavirus does the vaccine target?
The vaccine targets three fatal strains of coronavirus: SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19; SARS-CoV-1, another form of SARS coronavirus; and a MERS coronavirus that has caused deadly outbreaks globally.
How was the vaccine designed?
The vaccine was designed using a nanoparticle loaded with a key fragment called a receptor binding domain from each of the targeted coronaviruses. This fragment enables the immune system to build an effective response against the viruses.
What were the results in animal studies?
In studies involving mice, the vaccine candidate showed effectiveness against all three targeted coronavirus strains. Importantly, the vaccinated mice did not become sick when exposed to viruses resembling either SARS or MERS.
Are there plans for human clinical trials?
Yes, human clinical trials are planned for the coming year. These trials aim to test a version of the vaccine that carries immunogens to different SARS-CoV-2 strains, including those that have been dominant since the original outbreak in late 2019.
What is the significance of this research?
The research marks important progress toward the development of a universal coronavirus vaccine, which could potentially slow down or prevent another pandemic. Given that various forms of SARS and MERS have infected humans over the past two decades, a universal vaccine is considered a global health priority.
Who funded the research?
The research received financial support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health.
More about universal coronavirus vaccine
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute
- Cell Reports Journal
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- National Institutes of Health
- SARS-CoV-2 Information
- MERS Outbreak Data
6 comments
Funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Good to know our tax dollars are actually making a difference for once.
Solid research from Duke! But I’m curious about the long-term effects. Mouse trials are one thing, but human trials are a whole diff ballgame.
This is exciting but lets not forget, its still in the mouse trial stage. A long way to go before its a done deal, but still, fingers crossed!
So its a trivalent vaccine, right? Targeting SARS and MERS is genius. Makes me wonder why it took so long to go in this direction.
this is big news, guys. if this works, we’re talking about preventing future pandemics, not just dealing with the current one.
Wow, this is a game changer. Finally some real progress on a universal vaccine. When can we expect human trials to start? Really cant wait.