China’s Wuhan lab is developing a new vaccine for ‘future pandemics’ – is it preparing for another outbreak? (Image: iStock)
Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have developed a new nanovaccine that aims to provide universal protection against all major COVID-19 variants and possible future mutations of the coronavirus, the South China Morning Post reported. While this is a precautionary measure, it has sparked speculation about the safety of people. The world is just recovering from the catastrophic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but are we still safe? Or are we facing the likelihood of another outbreak?
More information about the vaccine
This intranasal nanoparticle vaccine combines ferritin, a blood protein, with coronavirus epitopes, which are the antigenic components that initiate immune responses. Early studies of the vaccine have shown promising results in protection against strains such as Delta, Omicron, and even the WIV04 strain.
While current vaccines have reduced infection rates, they do not provide 100% protection against all variants. “Current and future pandemics caused by Sars-CoV-2 variants and mutations underscore the need for effective vaccines that provide broad-spectrum protection,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Nano in June.
“Our constructed nanovaccine targeting the conserved epitopes of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies may serve as a promising candidate for a universal vaccine against Sars-CoV-2,” the paper adds.
The nanoparticle vaccine “has the potential protective capacity of a broad-spectrum vaccine,” the team wrote.
The nanovaccine was reportedly first tested on mice and showed promising results. Mice given the nanovaccine, followed by two booster doses within 42 days, showed significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. When the vaccinated mice were exposed to several coronavirus variants, including Omicron and Delta, they showed increased resistance.
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