Scientists develop `all-in-one` vaccine that may protect against broad range of coronaviruses – WION

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Scientists from theworld'sleading universities have developed an all-in-one vaccinethat they hope can protect humans against a broad range of coronaviruses, including onesthat areyet to emerge.

In a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology on Monday (May 6), scientists said that this vaccine works by training thebody'simmune system torecognisespecific regionsof eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which caused the COVID-19 outbreak, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic.

The new vaccineis basedon a structure called a nanoparticle a ball of proteins held together byincredibly stronginteractions. Chains of different viral antigens are attached to this nanoparticle using a novel"protein superglue".

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Multiple antigensare includedin these chains, which trains the immune system to target specific regions shared across a broad range of coronaviruses.

"Here, we produce quartets of linked receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from a panel of SARS-like betacoronaviruses, coupled to a computationally designed nanocage through SpyTag/SpyCatcher links,"the study said.

"These Quartet Nanocages, possessing a branched morphology, induce a high level ofneutralisingantibodies against several different coronaviruses, including against viruses not represented in the vaccine. Equivalent antibody responses are raised to RBDs close to the nanocage or at the tips of thenanoparticlesbranches,"it added.

The study also said that in animals primed withSARS-CoV-2 spike, boostimmunisationswith Quartet Nanocages increased the strength and breadth of an otherwise narrow immune response.

Rory Hillsfrom the University ofCambridge'spharmacology department and thestudy'sfirst author said that the focus has been to create a vaccine that would protect people"against the next coronaviruspandemic,and have it ready before the pandemic has even started."

Wevecreated a vaccine thatprovides protectionagainst a broad range ofdifferentcoronaviruses including ones wedonteven know about yet,Hills said.

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Meanwhile, thestudy'ssenior authorProfessorMark Howarthsaid,"Wedonthave to wait for new coronaviruses to emerge. We know enough aboutcoronaviruses,and different immune responses tothem,that we can get going with building protective vaccines against unknown coronaviruses now."

Professor Howarth, who is also withCambridge'spharmacology department, said that while scientistsdid a great job in quickly producing an extremely effective COVID-19 vaccine during the last pandemic, the world still had a massive crisis with ahugenumber of deaths.

"We need to work out how we can do even better than that in the future, and a powerful component of that is starting to build the vaccines in advance,Howarth added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists develop `all-in-one` vaccine that may protect against broad range of coronaviruses - WION