Revolutionary nasal vaccines: new glimmer of hope against Covid-19!

Revolutionary nasal vaccines: new glimmer of hope against Covid-19!

Scientists are working on a new generation of mucosal vaccines that could prove valuable in the fight against Covid-19. Such a concept was developed through a nasally administered viral vector vaccine based on the harmless Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which does not cause disease in humans. This vaccine expresses a stabilized spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to trigger an immune response. Loud Small newspaper A study examined the tissue distribution, immunogenicity and vaccination protection of this trivalent vector vaccine targeting the Wuhan, Beta and Delta variants in both mice and golden hamsters.

Research shows promising results: The live trivalent vector vaccine, administered intranasally, showed limited replication and largely remained at the site of administration, making it more effective than injected variants. During the infection tests carried out, it was observed that none of the vaccinated golden hamsters became ill. The vaccine also shows cross-immunity with the Omicron variant BA.1, which increases its relevance in the fight against Covid-19.

Development of vaccines

Existing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have their strengths, particularly in preventing severe disease, but challenges remain in inducing protective mucosal immunity. In this context, intranasal vaccines aimed at stopping the transmission of respiratory viruses are important. According to a study NDV vectors are promising as they represent a cost-effective and immunogenic vaccine platform that is stable at temperatures above freezing and utilizes global manufacturing techniques. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of NDV-S vaccines already demonstrate safety and immunogenicity, while phase 3 trials are still pending.

The study highlights that currently used mRNA vaccines have limited ability to generate immune responses in the upper respiratory tract, underscoring the need for new vaccines. Continued development is required, particularly to achieve strong mucosal immune responses.

Results and outlook

Additionally, another study found that the NDV-vectored vaccine (NDV-FLS) provides significant protective effects against SARS-CoV-2 by significantly reducing viral load and disease manifestation. In experiments with zynomolgus monkeys, the vaccine was shown to trigger robust immune responses and reduce viral RNA levels in nasal swabs and lower respiratory tract after two doses via respiratory immunization. The results suggest that the NDV vector is a promising candidate for clinical development and is considered safe.

In summary, the research results provide a promising proof of concept for mucosal, multivalent NDV-HXP-S vaccines that could be considered as future Covid-19 boosters. These developments could eliminate the need to constantly adapt to new variants and provide effective prevention against future pandemics.