Scientists in Germany have made a breakthrough in the development of a nasal Covid-19 vaccine that has shown early promise in animal studies. The new vaccine is designed to target the upper airways where the virus first enters the body and has been able to block the virus from copying itself, achieving "sterilizing immunity" and preventing illness.
The vaccine uses a live but weakened form of the coronavirus, which is then administered through the nasal tissues. This approach has shown to be effective in hamster studies, with two doses of the vaccine blocking the virus from replicating in the animals' upper airways. The researchers believe that this method could provide a more effective and longer-lasting immune response compared to traditional vaccines.
The German team's approach is similar to an old idea that dates back to the 1870s, when scientists first began using weakened viruses to protect against diseases like anthrax and rabies. In this case, the researchers used a technique called codon pair deoptimization to manipulate the genetic material in the virus, making it harder for cells to translate.
The vaccine has been shown to work better than traditional mRNA-based vaccines or adenovirus-based vaccines in the hamster studies. The researchers think that the live weakened vaccine may have worked better because it closely mimics the process of a natural infection.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic, said that while the results look encouraging, "caution is warranted." The vaccine still needs to pass more tests and is not yet ready for use in humans.
Other nasal vaccines are also in development, with several reaching late-stage testing in people. These include a recombinant vaccine produced cheaply in chicken eggs, as well as a live but weakened version of the virus developed by Codagenix.
The German team is eagerly watching the progress of these other vaccines, which may provide further insights into the effectiveness of their approach. However, they also have reason to worry that respiratory infections could be tough targets for inhaled vaccines, as seen with FluMist.
Despite these challenges, the use of live attenuated viruses has shown promise in the past, particularly in vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella. However, it's essential to consider that live vaccines can't be taken by everyone, especially those with very compromised immunity.
Overall, while this breakthrough is promising, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety before it can be widely adopted as a Covid-19 vaccine solution.
The vaccine uses a live but weakened form of the coronavirus, which is then administered through the nasal tissues. This approach has shown to be effective in hamster studies, with two doses of the vaccine blocking the virus from replicating in the animals' upper airways. The researchers believe that this method could provide a more effective and longer-lasting immune response compared to traditional vaccines.
The German team's approach is similar to an old idea that dates back to the 1870s, when scientists first began using weakened viruses to protect against diseases like anthrax and rabies. In this case, the researchers used a technique called codon pair deoptimization to manipulate the genetic material in the virus, making it harder for cells to translate.
The vaccine has been shown to work better than traditional mRNA-based vaccines or adenovirus-based vaccines in the hamster studies. The researchers think that the live weakened vaccine may have worked better because it closely mimics the process of a natural infection.
However, experts caution that more testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. Dr. Greg Poland, who designs vaccines at the Mayo Clinic, said that while the results look encouraging, "caution is warranted." The vaccine still needs to pass more tests and is not yet ready for use in humans.
Other nasal vaccines are also in development, with several reaching late-stage testing in people. These include a recombinant vaccine produced cheaply in chicken eggs, as well as a live but weakened version of the virus developed by Codagenix.
The German team is eagerly watching the progress of these other vaccines, which may provide further insights into the effectiveness of their approach. However, they also have reason to worry that respiratory infections could be tough targets for inhaled vaccines, as seen with FluMist.
Despite these challenges, the use of live attenuated viruses has shown promise in the past, particularly in vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella. However, it's essential to consider that live vaccines can't be taken by everyone, especially those with very compromised immunity.
Overall, while this breakthrough is promising, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety before it can be widely adopted as a Covid-19 vaccine solution.
Is it just about saving lives or are governments trying to control our bodies even more? I mean, who wants to take a live weakened virus up their nose? It sounds like a plot from a sci-fi movie! 
And don't even get me started on the chicken egg vaccine - is that really safe for mass production? 
What's next, injecting ourselves with bug soup? 
so yeah this nasal covid vaccine thing sounds pretty cool but also kinda scary cuz what if it doesn't work on humans? and what if its too good and we dont need to take the flu shot anymore lol what if we forget how to fight off other viruses because of this one? anyway im glad germany is trying to help with covid i feel like they have some awesome science people 
. It's like, they're trying something new and it's showing some serious promise in animal studies 
. The fact that it blocks the virus from copying itself is a huge plus 
. I mean, we've been waiting for what feels like forever for a better vaccine solution 
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. It just goes to show that you can't always reinvent the wheel, but sometimes old thinking can lead to new breakthroughs 
. And I love that they're using a live but weakened form of the virus – it's like they're taking a page from history to create something better for us in the present 
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. Dr. Greg Poland's caution is totally reasonable, though 
. We can't just rush into new medical solutions without making sure they're safe and effective first 
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. Maybe we'll have some real competition for this new German vaccine 
. Fingers crossed that it'll be a game-changer for COVID treatment 
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and i gotta say, the idea of targeting the upper airways first makes total sense 
but at the same time, i'm a bit skeptical about this whole "sterilizing immunity" thing... how does that even work? 
i mean, it's always great to see new ideas and approaches in vaccine development, but we gotta stay grounded in the science here 
. Can't just rely on one method to solve this pandemic problem. We need more testing and research to make sure this vaccine is safe and effective 
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! I mean, who wouldn't want a vaccine that's administered right up your nose? It's like a breath of fresh air (pun intended 
) compared to the traditional jabs we're used to. And the fact that it's using a live but weakened virus is genius! It's like a Trojan horse for your immune system, sneaking in and kicking some serious virus butt.
And what's with all these hamster studies? Have they even tested it on actual humans yet? 
I'm not buying it until there's concrete proof. Plus, this approach seems way too simplistic to tackle a virus like Covid-19 that's still got us stumped. We need more rigorous testing, not just a bunch of animal trials 
OF COURSE, MORE TESTING IS NEEDED BEFORE WE CAN START GIVING THIS VACCINE TO PEOPLE, BUT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN LINE IF IT WORKS OUT! 
I mean, the fact that it's using a live but weakened form of the coronavirus is genius 
We need to see more testing and results before this vaccine can be widely used 
. This German breakthrough is exciting, but we need to think about how it fits into our overall healthcare strategy 
I'd love to see more transparency on how funding is being allocated for vaccine development and distribution. Let's make sure we're investing in a comprehensive approach that tackles multiple health threats at once 
. And what about the environmental impact of mass-vaccination efforts? We can't ignore the potential effects on our ecosystems or the pharmaceutical industry's role in shaping public policy 
. Time to get real about the unintended consequences of our actions 
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. I'm not ready to say this vaccine is the silver bullet we've been waiting for just yet... but hey, at least it's a promising start! 
. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to vaccine development 
And the fact that it's working better than traditional vaccines in hamster studies? That's just incredible!