Single vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, researchers say

"A single nasal spray vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, as well as bacterial lung infections, and may even ease allergies, say US researchers. The team at Stanford University have tested their "universal vaccine" in animals and still need to do human clinical trials. Their approach marks a "radical departure" from the way vaccines have been designed for more than 200 years, they say."

"It is given as a nasal spray and leaves white blood cells in our lungs called macrophages on "amber alert" and ready to jump into action no matter what infection tries to get in. The effect lasted for around three months in animal experiments. The researchers showed this heightened state of readiness led to a 100-to-1,000-fold reduction in viruses getting through the lungs and into the body."

A single nasal spray vaccine can protect against a broad range of respiratory viruses, multiple bacterial lung infections, and may reduce allergic responses. The vaccine is administered nasally and places lung macrophages on 'amber alert', making them ready to act against invading pathogens. Animal experiments demonstrated that this heightened innate readiness lasted around three months and produced a 100-to-1,000-fold reduction in viruses reaching the body. For infections that bypassed these defenses, the wider immune system responded much faster. Protection was observed against influenza, Covid, common cold viruses, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. Human clinical trials are still required.

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