Potential 'holy grail' nasal spray that may protect against COVID-19, flu and pneumonia aims for human trials
https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/nation-world/nasal-spray-protects-against-covid-flu-pneumonia-developed/507-9ea0611a-481a-4d69-bd3e-99d7600dcadb?tbref=hp
StANFORD, Calif. A single nasal spray could soon protect people against everything from respiratory viruses to allergens, nearing the once mythical "Holy Grail" status of a universal vaccine, according to researchers from Stanford University.
Scientists published their findings in the Science academic journal on Thursday, in which they show the vaccine formula has worked on a "remarkably wide spectrum of respiratory threats" in mice. Mice lungs have long been used to model human lungs in scientific studies due to their genetic similarities.
The study showed that mice given a drop of the vaccine up their noses were protected against COVID-19, the flu, pneumonia, some bacterial infections, and even dust mite allergens for at least 3 months. The vaccine's success was attributed to it mimicking the signals immune cells use during an infection, rather than trying to mimic pathogens.
"We were interested in this idea because it sounded a bit outrageous. I think nobody was seriously entertaining that something like this could ever be possible," Dr. Bali Pulendran, the study's senior author, said in a Stanford press release. "I think what we have is a universal vaccine against diverse respiratory threats.
More at link.