Study provides first potential targets for effective immune responses against COVID-19. The findings provide essential information for vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2.
A phase 1 trial evaluating an investigational vaccine designed to protect against COVID-19 has begun in Seattle. The study will enroll 45 healthy people aged 18 to 55, over approximately 6 weeks. The first participant received the investigational vaccine today. Adults in the Seattle area may join the study.
With the peak of COVID-19 cases occurring between 3.5 to four weeks after controlled interventions were put into place in China, US researchers are urging the public to ramp up social distancing efforts and increase testing immediately.
Researchers are making progress in developing potential vaccines for coronavirus infections. While a vaccine for COVID-19 might be over a year away from market, researchers are looking ahead to attempt to prevent future outbreaks.
Researchers report they have identified a vaccine candidate for COVID-19 and are working towards phase one clinical testing. A chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector was chosen as the most suitable vaccine technology for SARS-CoV-2 as it can generate a stronger immune response in one dose and is not a replicating virus.
VPM1002, a vaccine candidate based on the tuberculosis BCG vaccine, may be effective in protecting against COVID-19. Previous studies in mice have shown the BCG vaccine is effective at protecting against several respiratory viral infections. If effective against coronavirus, researchers hope the vaccine can bridge the time gap until a specific SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is available.
Intermittent social distancing may have to be employed to reduce the burden on the health care system as a result of COVID-19. If COVID-19 is a seasonal ailment, like the flu, a new model shows physical distancing occurring between 25 and 75% of the time would help build up herd immunity and prevent health system overload.
A new COVID-19 vaccine produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities believed sufficient for neutralizing the virus, a mouse model study reveals. The new vaccine using an innovative microneedle array on fingertip-sized pads, which increases the vaccine potency.
Using a reverse genetics system, researchers have engineered a labeled version of the SARS-CoV-2, which turns cells green when they become infected with the virus. The technology can significantly help reduce the length of time needed to evaluate developing COVID-19 vaccines and bring them to market sooner.
Researchers have developed a new vaccine that fully protects mice against MERS by using a harmless virus to deliver MERS-CoV into cells and generate an immune response. The vaccine is an innocuous parainfluenza virus (PIV5) which carries the spike protein MERS uses to infect cells. Findings show the PIV5 based vaccine could be a useful platform for COVID-19.
Study reveals the body's immune system can recognize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in many ways. The findings should help dispel fears the virus may elude ongoing efforts to create a successful vaccine.
A COVID-19 vaccine under trial in the UK is safe, has few side effects, and induces a strong immune response in both parts of the immune system within 14 days of administration.
