A team of researchers at Stanford University has developed a single nasal spray vaccine that could protect against all coughs, colds, and flus, as well as bacterial lung infections, and may even ease allergies.
The researchers, led by Prof Bali Pulendran, a professor of microbiology and immunology, have tested their "universal vaccine" in animals and are planning human clinical trials, as reported by the BBC.
The approach marks a radical departure from traditional vaccine design, which has remained largely unchanged since Edward Jenner pioneered vaccines in the late 18th Century.
How the Vaccine Works
Instead of training the immune system to fight a specific infection, the new vaccine mimics the way immune cells communicate with each other, leaving white blood cells in the lungs on "amber alert" and ready to respond to any infection.
The effect of the vaccine lasted for around three months in animal experiments, with a 100-to-1,000-fold reduction in viruses getting through the lungs and into the body.
Expert Reaction
Prof Daniela Ferreira, a professor of vaccinology at University of Oxford, described the research as "really exciting" and said it could "change how we protect people from common coughs, colds and other respiratory infections" if the results are confirmed in human studies.
However, experts also cautioned that there are still many questions to answer, including whether the vaccine can be effective in humans and what the potential side effects may be.
Future Trials and Applications
The researchers are planning trials where one person is vaccinated and then deliberately infected to see how their body copes, and also exploring the potential for the vaccine to be used as a seasonal spray to provide broad immunity against winter bugs.
