New Delhi: Developing vaccines to prevent fatal diseases can take years.
Fortunately, the first vaccine for COVID-19 was developed in just nine months.
In what will be considered as a massive development in medical fraternity, researchers at the University of California (UC) Riverside in USA have developed a vaccine approach that targets all virus strains.
The vaccine, using RNA (ribonucleic acid), has shown to provide safety for vulnerable groups like infants and those with weakened immune systems.
UC Riverside has already secured a US patent for this RNAi vaccine technology.
According to the findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the vaccine shows promising results in mice.
“This vaccine is broad, effective against any virus variant, and safe for diverse populations,” said UCR virologist and paper author Rong Hai.
Unlike traditional vaccines, the new one doesn’t rely on typical immune responses. It utilises small RNA molecules, providing protection even in people with underdeveloped or compromised immune systems.
“Our approach triggers the body’s RNAi response, weakening the virus,” explained lead author Shouwei Ding.
Testing on mice showed protection for at least 90 days with one vaccine dose.
Significantly, even newborn mice benefited, suggesting potential for infants.
The UC Riverside team will apply this strategy to develop flu vaccines, most likely in the form of a nasal spray.
The researchers believe this approach will minimise the risk of viral mutation evasion, paving the way for universal vaccines against various pathogens.
“We can adapt this strategy to target numerous viruses, offering a single vaccine solution,” Ding said.
