Ohio State University scientists found, new research has advanced COVID-19 vaccine work in several ways: using a modified live attenuated mumps virus for delivery, showing that a more stable coronavirus spike protein stimulates a stronger immune response, and suggesting a dose up the nose has an advantage over a shot.

Figure 1: Advanced COVID-19 vaccine produce immunity in kids.

Figure 1 shows thatBased on these combined findings in rodent experiments, Ohio State University scientists envision one day incorporating a coronavirus antigen into the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine as a way to produce COVID-19 immunity in kids. [1]

To create the antigen that stimulates immunity in this vaccine candidate, researchers used a prefusion version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein -- the shape it is in on the surface of the virus before the virus infects a cell. The spike was locked into this form by changing six of its amino acids to prolines, an inflexible amino acid.

"The 6P antigen is about 8 1/2 times better than 2P. That's a big deal -- that's a lot more antibody production, which may become important since it looks like the virus is going to keep on evolving," said Mark Peeples.[2]

Researchers found that the mumps virus genome is even more amenable than measles to insertion of the spike protein gene. Once the 6P spike protein gene is inserted into the genome, the recombinant mumps virus replicates more slowly but is genetically stable and grows well in a World Health Organization-approved cell line for vaccine production.

Researchers compared the 6P spike protein vaccine candidate’s effectiveness to a 2P version in mumps, and to mumps without the spike protein, in mice engineered to be highly susceptible to mumps infection and in golden Syrian hamsters, a standard animal model for SARS-CoV-2 studies.

In all experiments, the 6P vaccine produced the best results: higher concentrations of neutralizing antibodies after vaccination and, after introduction of a SARS-CoV-2 virus challenge a few weeks later, protection from lung damage and significantly fewer viral particles in the lungs and nasal cavity.

Researchers vaccinated study animals by both injections and by drops into the nose, an attractive needle-free option that, the results suggested, provides superior protection against the coronavirus by inducing not only system-wide antibodies, but a broad response of specialized antibodies called IgA on mucosal surfaces of the airways as well, Li said.[3]

References:

1. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-07-scientists-effective-intranasal-mumps-based-covid-.html
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220727153640.htm
3. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/960129

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), New Intranasal Mumps for Covid 19 Vaccine Candidate, AnaTechMaz, pp.61