This vaccination could finally ward off Corona completely

The previous Covid vaccinations prevented about 20 million deaths worldwide in the first year and a million deaths in Europe alone. But vaccinated people also get sick from new variants of Sars-CoV-2 and some are still quite serious. Meanwhile, the constant boosters can hardly do anything against an infection, and usually another variant is already in circulation when a modified mRNA vaccine comes on the market.

Only a nasal vaccination could change this: such a defense builds up in the nasal mucosa and could prevent an infection. China and India have already developed nasal vaccines based on the vector principle: genetic material is implanted into a harmless virus. The downside: as with mRNA vaccines, the body doesn’t get to see the whole virus and the immune response is therefore weaker.

But now researchers led by University of Basel virologist Thomas Klimkait present another, smart method: his team has developed a kind of harmless live vaccine with the Basel start-up Rocketvax: the type of vaccination with the best immune response – but for people with weakened immune systems poses significant risks if the live vaccine is only weakened.

But Klimkait has genetically modified the virus so that it can enter a human cell but not infect neighboring cells. To do this, the researchers removed genes from the blueprint for the virus envelope and additional functions – which is why no new virus particles can form.

This is especially important with a nasal vaccination, as the nose is a sensitive area. If an infection occurs there, there is a risk that it will spread to the central nervous system via nearby cranial nerves. Partly because of this concern, nasal vaccines have so far had little success. In Switzerland, only a nasal flu vaccination for children has been approved since last year.

Klimkait is less concerned: “There is a very good protection mechanism in the nose, especially near the brain.” They have succeeded in developing a safe live vaccine.

The Federal Office of Public Health also classifies this vaccine with safety level 2 as not particularly dangerous. The results have not yet been assessed and have not yet appeared in trade journals, but can be viewed here.

In the lab, hamsters vaccinated with the Basel vaccine not only showed no symptoms, they also did not infect other animals: a so-called sterile immunity. It is not yet clear how long the protection will last. The researchers assume that the vaccine works just as well against new variants as against the current ones. In any case, they observed a response against all existing variants of Sars-CoV-2.

The researchers also apparently surprised lab experts with their vaccine: Klimkait reports that no irreproducible live vaccine has ever been seen that could completely prevent the infection of other individuals.

The vaccine has another smart feature. It is known that Sars-CoV-2 evades the interferon response, ie the human immune system, very well. Klimkait suspected that four virus genes were behind it, which fight the human interferon defense. Three of them were therefore removed. This allows the body to respond even better to the vaccine.

Another advantage of vaccination: it is easy to produce and easy to store. According to Klimkait, the substance could be tested in a first human clinical trial very soon. But the partner and biotech start-up Rocktvax does not think the time is right for further development.

It’s possible it’s also about prioritizing other nasal vaccine projects: Rocketvax is involved in three. Another is that of University of Bern virologist Volker Thiel, the third of Berlin scientists, including Swiss Emanuel Wyler (links here and here). The latter is apparently the most advanced. Both depend on a weakened virus that has difficulty – but still – reproduces in humans.

Vladimir Cmiljanovic, CEO of Roketvax, says when asked that three nasal vaccine projects are not a problem: “On the contrary. It increases the chance that at least one – better of course all – of the vaccines will fly.” As long as the interim results are promising, we will stick with all results.

It does not matter whose nasal vaccination is approved first – somehow the projects actually come too late: the population, even if not fully vaccinated, is almost completely infected. And even in the event of a new pandemic, mRNA technology would likely have an edge, as no other vaccine has been developed so quickly so far. The research team now wants to demonstrate with other research that the Basel vaccine could be adapted just as quickly.

A vaccination that prevents corona infections would still be desirable, especially for immunocompromised people. And especially in long-Covid patients, reinfections often lead to a worsening of symptoms. In addition, the Basel vaccination does not require a syringe and is therefore suitable for people who are afraid of needles. (aargauerzeitung.ch)