Given the fear that new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, may emerge, many researchers are working on more precise vaccines that protect against all possible variants. A group of Austrian scientists have developed one that appears to be effective against all of them, including the one of greatest concern today, omicron.
According to preclinical data, which have been published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, this SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine (PreS-RBD) developed by the Medical University of Vienna (Austria) is antigen-based and could be effective even in those who have not yet developed immunity with other vaccines.
This drug targets the receptor binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 and generated a robust and consistent RBD-specific IgG antibody response in animal and human tests. This defensive reaction prevents the virus from attaching to the cell and entering it, making it more difficult for infection to occur.
A vaccine that protects those who do not respond to other doses
This vaccine against COVID-19 is made up of a structurally folded fusion protein with two RBDs from the coronavirus and the PreS antigen from hepatitis B, which acts as an immunological carrier for each other, generating a strong immune response that could protect from disease.
The vaccine appears to be effective in all age and risk groups and appears to generate more neutralizing antibodies than those available to date.
The PreS-RBD vaccine has the potential to induce sterilizing immunity against old and new SARS-CoV-2 variants by preventing infection by stopping viral replication and transmission through inhibition of cellular virus entry. explained Rudolf Valenta, director of the investigation.
The authors found evidence that currently available SARS-CoV-2 genetic vaccines work by mainly inducing transient IgG1 antibody responses, while the new PreS-RBD vaccine is also capable of inducing RBD-specific IgG4 antibodies. long-lasting.
And it is that the results of the tests showed that the PreS-RBD-specific IgG antibodies that were detected in the blood and mucous secretions reacted with SARS-CoV-2 variants, including omicron. According to the researchers, the antibodies generated by the Austrian vaccine more potently inhibited the binding of RBD to its human receptor ACE2.
According to Valenta, “the vaccine is designed to allow repeated injections to develop sustained sterilizing immunity, is suitable for use in all age and risk groups, and appears to be superior to currently available vaccines when it comes to inducing neutralizing antibodies.” . In addition, they believe that this drug could also be effective in people who have not responded well to other vaccines, so PreS-RBD could provide them with an additional dose of T cells.
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