The US military has launched clinical trials for its ‘next generation’ COVID-19 vaccine designed to protect against the pandemic virus, its variants and other coronaviruses.
In early tests, it appears that the shot causes high levels of antibodies that should block the older ‘wild-type’ coronavirus, three major variants and even SARS-CoV-1, a similar pathogen that caused the SARS epidemic in 2002.
The shot, developed at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), could have the potential to prevent future viruses from triggering pandemics, the scientists behind it hope.
His first clinical trial, launched this week, will test the shot at 72 health volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55.
U.S. Army scientists have launched clinical trials on 72 participants for the coronavirus vaccine, which produced antibodies against several variants in early tests – and could even work broadly enough to prevent diseases of future coronaviruses and their variants (file)
The three COVID-19 vaccines available under emergency use (EUA) in the US are very effective against the form that spread like wildfire in 2020.
But the more contagious B117 variant in the UK is now predominant in the US, disease control and prevention centers (CDC) officials announced on Wednesday.
Vaccines still protect against B117, but new threats have emerged.
Variants first identified in South Africa, Brazil, New York, California, and India all have mutations that cause scientists to worry that the variants could evade antibodies caused by the vaccines.
So far, all three vaccinations authorized in the US, as well as AstraZeneca’s beleaguered shot, appear to be weakened by, but still protective, variants from South Africa and Brazil, which have caused the greatest concern.
And data released Wednesday suggests that Moderna’s vaccine works against the California variant.
If Moderna’s vaccine can stop the variant, it’s probably also that of Pfizer, because the two shots use the same type of technology.
But all these shots work by targeting the so-called ‘spike’ protein.
The vein protein protrudes from the surface of the virus and causes it to invade and infect human cells.
Current vaccines cause antibodies designed to attach to this peak, which inactivates or at least weakens the ability to bind to receptors on the surface of human cells.
But viruses are constantly mutating, and this region of the virus is particularly prone to developing.
Vaccines can be updated to counteract these mutations, but it can mean an endless loop of booster shots.
And viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which cause COVID-19, make the leap from animals to humans more frequent, increasing the global risk of more pandemics.
The military is therefore taking a different approach, hoping to address the current pandemic, its evolution and possibly future problems.
“That is why we need a vaccine like this: one that has the potential to protect broadly and proactively against various coronavirus species and strains,” said Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch (EIDB) at WRAIR, which leads the army’s COVID. 19 vaccine research.
“Even before recent COVID-19 variants were identified, our team was concerned about the emergence of new coronaviruses in human populations, a threat that has accelerated in recent years.”
Global disease experts have been aware of this for years.
It is therefore ideal that universal vaccines against all kinds of pathogens can help the world prepare for virtually any threat before it becomes a pandemic.
To do this, the army, known as a vaccine platform for ferritin nanoparticles, can be used to attach small and harmless pieces of a virus or viruses to the round surface of the vehicle and deliver them into the body.
The vehicle is the ferritin nanoparticle, a small particle that contains iron. Most vaccines, such as those manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, use a harmless virus as the vehicle. MRNA shots like Moderna’s and Pfizer’s provide a piece of genetic code for coronavirus’ ear protein to technology the body to make this protein and antibodies against it.
But the Army’s vaccination could cause broader protection, and because it uses a simpler iron nanoparticle, it does not need to be stored at cold temperatures than is necessary for current permission.
And it can be developed much faster.
Early tests showed that the same vaccine developed by the military caused high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the variants, as well as the 2002 SARS virus.
Early research on this type of vaccination suggests that it elicits equally strong, if not stronger immune responses, compared to other vaccine platforms – and this with fewer side effects.
Now it just has to prove its steel in clinical trials.
“We have been doing this for a long time,” said Dr Modjarrad.
‘We have designed and positioned this platform as the next generation vaccine, one that paves the way for a universal vaccine to not only protect against the current virus but also counteract future variants and stop it in their tracks before re-emerging. can cause a pandemic. ‘