Scientists are developing a combination nasal vaccine to protect against multiple viruses

Researchers at Stanford University of Medicine developed New vaccine It can prevent multiple viruses at once, including coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza, and pneumonia.

The vaccine is given “intranasally” through a Nasal spraywhich provides “broad protection in the lungs for several months,” according to a press release from Stanford Medicine.

Researchers claim this is the closest science has come to creating a universal vaccine that protects against the disease Respiratory virusesBacteria and allergens.

The study, published in Science magazine, examined the effect of the vaccine on mice. The animals were given drops in the nose, and some received multiple doses each week.

Researchers say that the new global vaccine, which is used in the form of a nasal spray, can protect against several viruses and allergens at once. (Istock)

Each mouse was then exposed to the respiratory virus. While the immunized mice experienced protection for at least three months, the unvaccinated mice had a dramatic experience Weight loss Due to illness, pneumonia and death. The statement stated that every vaccinated mouse survived and had clean lungs.

It was also found that vaccinated mice were protected against this disease SARS-CoV02 and other coronavirusesas well as Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii — common hospital-acquired infections — and house dust mites, a common allergen.

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The universal vaccine does not target a single virus, but instead trains the immune system in the lungs to “provide broad protection against many different respiratory viruses,” Bali Pulendran, the study’s senior author and a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University, told Fox News Digital.

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“By reprogramming innate immune cells that function within hours of infection, the vaccine prepares the lungs to fight many different respiratory viruses, even new ones,” he said.

“Our findings suggest what may be possible in the future, but they are not a substitute for the vaccines that exist today.”

If such a vaccine is translated to humans, it could replace “multiple doses every year for seasonal respiratory infections and come in handy in case a new pandemic virus emerges,” according to Pulendran.

“Imagine getting a nasal spray in the fall months that protects you against all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and the common cold, as well as Bacterial pneumonia “And allergens in early spring,” the researcher said. “This would change medical practice.”

The researchers said that pre-clinical trials on mice appear promising, as none of the vaccinated mice died from the disease. (Istock)

The study results suggest that the immune system can be “trained to perform a more general function.” Antiviral defense “In the lungs,” Pulendran added.

The researcher admitted that the study had some limitations.

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that it Pre-clinical study It was done in animal models, making it “an important proof of concept and not a definitive human vaccine,” Pulendran said.

He added: “Although the results are encouraging, additional studies are needed to determine safety, optimal doses and effectiveness in humans.”

The lead researcher predicted that with the necessary funding, a nasal spray vaccine could be available within five to seven years. (Istock)

This research should not change current medical advice, according to Pulendran, and the public should continue to rely on approved vaccines and public health guidance.

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“Our goal is not to replace existing vaccines, but to complement them by developing strategies that can provide an additional layer of protection against a wide range of respiratory threats, including future pandemics,” Pulendran added. “Translation to humans will require caution Clinical tests“.

The next step for scientists will be to test the vaccine on humans. With sufficient funding, Pulendran expects a vaccine could be available within five to seven years.

Researchers advise the public to continue to rely on available vaccines. (Istock)

Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr., medical director of the Arkansas-based National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, emphasized that there has been “long-time interest” in developing universal vaccines.

Hopkins, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that immune responses in mice are not similar to those in humans.

“This process is a wonderful concept, and the study is very interesting, but many additional steps must be completed successfully and safely before this can be considered in humans,” he told Fox News Digital.

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“It will likely take many years, require significant financial investment and involve multiple additional studies before we know whether this global vaccine candidate can be safely administered to humans and whether it will provide similar protection against the disease.” Respiratory bacteria And viruses.”

The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health, a Violeta L. Horton Professorship, a Soffer Fund grant, and an Open Philanthropy grant.

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