Flu and COVID and allergies, oh my!
With a record-breaking flu season still underway — and spring allergies just around the corner — you may find your medicine cabinet packed to the brim with painkillers and decongestants.
But a new treatment in development could be a game-changer when it comes to universal protection against a variety of illnesses.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have developed an experimental vaccine that shields against a broad range of respiratory viruses, bacteria and even allergens — and it’s delivered in the form of a nasal spray.
Published Feb. 19 in Science, the findings showed vaccinated mice were protected against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii (common infections) and house dust mites, a common allergen.
If scientists are able to replicate the results in people, this vaccine could replace multiple yearly shots for a wide range of respiratory illnesses, as well as provide fast protection for any new pandemic viruses.
This easy-to-use treatment also works differently from common vaccines and allergy shots.
While the current vaccine mechanism works to train the immune system to be able to identify a virus, the issue is that pathogens can evolve quickly.
So rather than copying and targeting a specific virus, the nasal spray vaccine imitates the communication signals immune cells exchange during infection for a coordinated and longer-lasting response.
This means it essentially supercharges the lungs’ own immune defenses to keep them on alert for at least three months.
The vaccinated mice also showed rapid responses to viruses in a matter of days, as opposed to the two weeks it took for the immune system to respond in unvaccinated mice.
Previous nasal sprays have been available to treat the flu and reduce the viral load of COVID-19, but each required separate treatments.
While the treatment still needs to be adapted for humans, the researchers are hopeful that a universal vaccine could be available within five to seven years with adequate funding.
Researchers also believe people would only need two doses of the nasal spray for full protection and prevention, simplifying seasonal vaccinations and offering future pandemic protection.
“Imagine getting a nasal spray in the fall months that protects you from all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold,” senior study author and professor of microbiology and immunology Bali Pulendran said in a press release. “That would transform medical practice.”
