In a recent study published in a journal, a team of researchers formulated a trivalent intranasal vaccine known as MMS, which protects against measles, mumps, and various SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Nairametrics learns that this innovative vaccine provides robust and lasting protection against significant variants of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
The researchers based their approach on the established safety record of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine platform.
Background to the study
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, resulted in over 6.96 million fatalities and more than 771 million infections worldwide as of October 2023.
While numerous vaccines using the prefusion spike (S) protein have been developed, they face challenges such as reduced efficacy against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants, short-lived protection, and the absence of mucosal immunity.
The emergence of various variants, notably the heavily mutated Omicron strain, presents difficulties for current vaccines.
As a result, there is an urgent need for more effective vaccines. Given the persistent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the limitations of existing vaccines, further research is crucial for the development of next-generation intranasal vaccines capable of providing broader mucosal immunity and adaptability to evolving strains.
What the vaccine does
The modified MMR vaccine generates robust immune responses in both the systemic and lung-specific regions, offering defence against multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains, including Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants.
Unlike monovalent vaccines with limited protective scope, this trivalent vaccine exhibits broad neutralization capabilities against diverse virus strains.
Administered intranasally, the MMS vaccine elicits robust immune responses systemically and within mucosal areas, potentially safeguarding against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Importantly, the vaccine’s adaptable design allows for easy adjustments to address newly emerging variants.
In essence, this next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate offers comprehensive and enduring protection, underscoring its potential as a significant tool against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
