Researchers at Duke University have successfully developed a pan-coronavirus vaccine that is effective against three deadly strains, and its effectiveness was proven in a mouse study. This progress paves the way for potential human clinical trials and represents a significant advance toward a universal coronavirus vaccine that addresses a critical global health need.
A study in mice confirmed that a vaccine candidate could target SARS and MERS strains.
A promising vaccine targeting three deadly coronaviruses has proven effective in preliminary tests in mice, highlighting the potential for a universal coronavirus vaccine.
The study was conducted by experts at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and recently published in the journal Science. cell report. This innovative nanoparticle vaccine builds on previous versions that protect mice and primates from a variety of bacterial strains. SARS-CoV-2the culprit behind COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection).
The study showed that the vaccine is effective against SARS-CoV-1, another form of the SARS coronavirus that can infect humans, and the MERS coronavirus, which regularly causes deadly outbreaks around the world. Protected the mouse.
“We are making important progress toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine,” said lead author Dr. Kevin O. Sanders, deputy director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute. “These are pathogens that cause or have the potential to cause serious infections and loss of life in humans, and a single vaccine that provides protection could slow or even prevent further pandemics. It may be possible.”
Vaccine design and early successes
Sanders and his colleagues constructed a trivalent vaccine using nanoparticles loaded with a key fragment called the receptor-binding domain of each coronavirus.Fragment – Docking site on virus This allows entry into the body’s cells and gives immune cells enough information to build an effective response against the actual coronavirus entering the body.
In previous studies in mice and primates, researchers demonstrated that early iterations of nanoparticle vaccines were effective against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. Next year, human tests are planned for versions carrying immunogens against different SARS-CoV-2 strains, including the strain that has become predominant since the first outbreak in late 2019.
Expanding vaccine coverage
Current research is expanding the vaccine components to include additional SARS-related and MERS viruses. In laboratory studies as well as in mice, researchers found that the vaccine candidate produced suppressive immune molecules called antibodies against all three pathogenic human coronaviruses.
Importantly, the vaccinated mice did not become ill when infected with either the SARS-like or MERS-like viruses.
“This study shows proof of concept that a single vaccine that protects against both MERS and SARS viruses is an achievable goal,” Sanders said. “Developing a universal coronavirus vaccine is a global health priority, given that one MERS virus and two SARS viruses have infected humans in the past 20 years.”
Reference: “Vaccine-mediated protection against merbecovirus and sarbecovirus infections in mice” David R. Martinez, Alexandra Schäfer, Tyler D. Gavitt, Michael L. Mallory, Esther Lee, Nicholas J. Catanzaro, Haiyan Chen, Kendra Gully , by Trevor Scobey, Pooja Kolategere, Alecia Brown, Lena Smith, Robert Parks, Maggie Barr, Amanda Newman, Cindy Bowman, John M. Powers, Eric J. Soderblom, Katayon Mansoori, Robert・J. Edwards, Ralph S. Barrick, Burton F. Haynes, Kevin O. Sanders, October 18, 2023, cell report.
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113248
In addition to Sanders, study authors include first author David R. Martinez, Alexandra Schaefer, Tyler D. Gavitt, Michael L. Mallory, and Esther Lee, all currently at Yale School of Medicine. , Nicholas J. Catanzaro, Haiyan Chen, and Kendra. Gary, Trevor Scobee, Pooja Kolategere, Alecia Brown, Lena Smith, Rob Parks, Maggie Barr, Amanda Newman, Cindy Bowman, John M. Powers, Eric J. Soderblom, Katayon Mansouri, Robert J. Edwards, Ralph S. Barrick, Burton F. Haynes.
This study received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institutes of Health (U54 CA260543, P01 AI158571).
