Scientists in Germany say they've made a nasal vaccine that can shut down Covid-19 infection in the nose and throat. In experiments with hamsters, two doses of the weakened but live coronavirus blocked the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways, achieving "sterilizing immunity" and preventing illness.
The vaccine has several more hurdles to clear before it's ready for use. However, other nasal vaccines are in use or nearing completion in clinical trials. China and India have already rolled out vaccines given through the nasal tissues, but studies on their effectiveness have yet to be published.
A new approach being explored is boosting mucosal immunity by enhancing immune defenses in the upper airways, where the virus enters the body. This method is similar to stationing firefighters underneath a smoke alarm, according to study author Emanuel Wyler.
The vaccine takes a weakened form of the coronavirus and modifies its genetic material to make it harder for cells to translate. The result is a vaccine that previews the entire coronavirus for the immune system, not just its spike proteins.
Early results from animal studies are promising, with two doses of the nasal vaccine showing a stronger immune response than other types of vaccines. However, vaccine experts caution that more tests need to be conducted before the vaccine can be widely used.
One researcher notes that while this approach is promising, it's essential to develop a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived. This would provide better protection against new variants of the virus.
Several nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently in late-stage testing in humans, including some that use live but weakened viruses. These include a recombinant vaccine produced cheaply in chicken eggs and one developed by Codagenix, which has shown promising results in South America and Africa.
While these advancements hold promise, there is still concern about the effectiveness of nasal vaccines, particularly against respiratory infections like Covid-19. The challenge lies in delivering an effective vaccine through the nasal tissues without causing harm to people with compromised immune systems.
The vaccine has several more hurdles to clear before it's ready for use. However, other nasal vaccines are in use or nearing completion in clinical trials. China and India have already rolled out vaccines given through the nasal tissues, but studies on their effectiveness have yet to be published.
A new approach being explored is boosting mucosal immunity by enhancing immune defenses in the upper airways, where the virus enters the body. This method is similar to stationing firefighters underneath a smoke alarm, according to study author Emanuel Wyler.
The vaccine takes a weakened form of the coronavirus and modifies its genetic material to make it harder for cells to translate. The result is a vaccine that previews the entire coronavirus for the immune system, not just its spike proteins.
Early results from animal studies are promising, with two doses of the nasal vaccine showing a stronger immune response than other types of vaccines. However, vaccine experts caution that more tests need to be conducted before the vaccine can be widely used.
One researcher notes that while this approach is promising, it's essential to develop a pan-coronavirus vaccine that induces mucosal immunity and is long-lived. This would provide better protection against new variants of the virus.
Several nasal vaccines for Covid-19 are currently in late-stage testing in humans, including some that use live but weakened viruses. These include a recombinant vaccine produced cheaply in chicken eggs and one developed by Codagenix, which has shown promising results in South America and Africa.
While these advancements hold promise, there is still concern about the effectiveness of nasal vaccines, particularly against respiratory infections like Covid-19. The challenge lies in delivering an effective vaccine through the nasal tissues without causing harm to people with compromised immune systems.
I'm totally hyped about this new nasal vaccine! 
It's like, finally something that can stop Covid-19 from spreading in our noses and throats 
. I mean, imagine not having to worry about getting sick all the time 
. The fact that it's made by scientists in Germany is even more awesome, like they're total geniuses 
. And yeah, I know there are still some hurdles to clear, but I'm all for it! 
Let's hope it gets approved soon so we can all get protected 
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So I think this new nasal vaccine idea is pretty cool 
! It's like, we're trying to station our bodies' fire fighters under the smoke alarm instead of just covering it up with a mask 
. And yeah, developing a pan-coronavirus vaccine that lasts long is key 
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. Can't wait to see where this one goes! 
! it's like they're one step closer to making us all Covid-proof 
. the idea of stationing firefighters under a smoke alarm is actually kinda genius 
. and can you believe they're already showing promising results with animal studies? two doses are giving a stronger immune response than other types of vaccines! 
that's what i'm talking about! of course, there's still more work to be done, but I just know this vaccine is gonna change the game 
. let's get ready for a Covid-free future where we can all breathe easy again 
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It makes total sense that we'd focus on boosting immunity in the upper airways, where viruses like Covid-19 enter our bodies. The analogy about firefighters and smoke alarms is genius 
My only concern is ensuring these vaccines are safe for people with weakened immune systems. If they can nail that, we might be looking at a game-changer for Covid-19 and other respiratory infections! 
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We need to consider the accessibility of this vaccine, especially in countries where healthcare is already stretched thin.
. I mean, we're talking about a virus that can mutate in an instant – how do you guarantee this vaccine will keep up? 
. We need to keep pushing for better vaccines, but we also need to consider the real-world implications and challenges that come with them 
But if this vaccine works out it could be game-changer for people with weakened immune systems who are more susceptible to illness 
! Of course, there are still concerns and hurdles to clear, but I'm all about keeping an open mind and seeing where this research takes us 
. The idea of boosting mucosal immunity is genius though - it's like giving our body a fire extinguisher for the virus 
. But yeah, we gotta make sure these vaccines can keep up with the variants 
... I mean, have you heard about that Omicron thing? 
. I mean, think about it, if we could just boost our mucosal immunity and prevent the virus from copying itself in the upper airways, we'd be golden 
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. We need to make sure it's safe and effective for people with compromised immune systems, and that we're not just treating the symptoms but actually preventing the infection from taking hold 
. And let's be real, a vaccine that can give us more control over our own health is basically the ultimate superpower 
!
I mean, who wouldn't want a quick fix for this whole virus thing? 
also, have you thought about how they're gonna make sure this vaccine doesn't hurt people with weak immune systems? 
. I've seen some family members struggle with health issues, and it's devastating to think that a vaccine could cause more harm than good.
. And the fact that it's boosting mucosal immunity is a total game-changer 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that researchers are exploring new approaches like this? It's like having multiple firefighters on station, always prepared to tackle a smoke alarm (or in this case, a virus) 
i mean I'm not gonna lie about being hyped for this new tech but it's crazy how something like a nasal vaccine can be so fascinating in a weird way 
anyway I guess we'll just have to wait and see if this thing becomes a reality 
. And have you heard about all these other nasal vaccines being developed? China and India are already rolling them out over there, which is cool I guess... but what's the catch? How effective do they actually need to be against respiratory infections like Covid-19? The thing that worries me is how we're going to deliver this vaccine without causing harm to people with compromised immune systems 
