Health
New ‘one-and-done’ vaccine method could protect babies – against Covid, flu – with just a single shot, study suggests
Topline
Researchers are presenting a new vaccine method for infants that provides continued protection with just a single dose, even if the virus mutates, according to a new study that could pave the way for ‘universal vaccines’.
A patient receiving a vaccine.
Key facts
Vaccines for diseases like the flu are updated annually to accommodate new variants, while vaccines for some diseases like COVID-19 are updated less frequently to target dominant variants of the virus circulating in the US.
There are several ways to make vaccines, but one of the most popular ways To make them, a weakened or inactive version of the virus is inserted, which in turn causes the body’s immune system to produce T cells that attack the virus and prevent it from spreading.
This new vaccine strategy – tested on mice – also uses a modified version of a virus, but instead of relying on the body’s immune system response, it uses small interfering RNA molecules (siRNA), which stop the spread of disease, to create separate vaccines that target different diseases, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Diseases thrive because they produce a protein that can block the production of siRNAs, but the new vaccine strategy creates and uses a mutant virus that cannot produce these proteins, allowing the body’s siRNAs to weaken the virus regardless of the circumstances. as it mutates and creates a new variant.
The research team from the University of California, Riverside, believes that because this strategy does not rely on the body’s immune response to disease, it will also be suitable for babies whose immune systems are still developing.
The researchers tested this method on baby mice and discovered that they also produce siRNA. That’s why they vaccinated them against the mouse disease Nodamura. They found the vaccine caused “rapid and complete protection” against the virus.
Crucial quote
“It is broadly applicable to any number of viruses, broadly effective against any variant of a virus, and safe for a broad spectrum of people,” Rong Hai, a study author and virologist at the University of California, Riverside, said in a statement . “This could be the universal vaccine we’ve been looking for.”
Important background
Although there are some approved vaccines for infants, vaccines for diseases such as the measles, COVID-19 and the flu can only be administered to people over six months of age. This is due to their immature immune systems causing a reduced response to these vaccines, and a potential lack of effectiveness, according to a study. study published in Vaccination. However, this group of people is one of the most susceptible to serious infections. Babies under six months of age are at the greatest risk of being hospitalized due to a flu infection. according to to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To protect this population from infections, it is recommended that all household members and people in close contact with them are vaccinated against these diseases. Some research shows that vaccinated mothers can pass antibodies to fetuses through the umbilical cord, and newborns through breast milk that can continue to protect the babies from infection. Vaccines against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) given to pregnant mothers have been shown to protect babies for up to six months after birth. according to to the CDC.
Tangent
Although there are no approved siRNA vaccines, researchers are working on vaccines that target them COVID-19 and the flu. It has previously been debated whether humans and other mammals use interfering RNA to kill viruses. However, the same team from the University of California, Riverside also performed research in 2013 found this theory to be true. The team later went on to prove that a flu infection causes the body to produce interfering RNA, so they are developing a flu vaccine that uses this strategy.
Surprising fact
The researchers plan to make this vaccine as a nasal spray rather than an injection. “Respiratory infections travel through the nose, so a spray may be an easier delivery system,” Hai said. There is already an approved nasal spray flu vaccine that has been shown to be as effective as flu shots in children. according to to the CDC. Several research teams are working on nasal COVID-19 vaccines, and both China And India have approved the use of nasal sprays in the form of boosters.
