COVID-19 Vaccine Update: A Nasal Spray Will Cure And Prevent COVID-19 In Future, Not Here Yet

A new DNA-based vaccine for the novel Coronavirus is under works that will not need an invasive method to administer the drug.

In fact, the vaccine will be administered in a unique and possibly the easiest way possible, as a nasal spray, to cure and prevent COVID-19 pandemic.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are in pursuit of the unique vaccine which is still not finalised. The DNA-based vaccine will replicate within the bacteria already present in the host body. It will then target tissues in the nasal cavity and lower respiratory tract to generate immunity against the COVID-19. Such a process is called bacteriophage.

To generate immunity against the COVID-19, the vaccine will produce a virus-like particle (VLP) in targeted tissues. Knowing how vaccines work with a small dose of the disease-causing virus/bacteria injected in the human body to develop antibodies against it, this VLP will act in the same manner to stimulate an immune response in people against COVID-19.

The reason for this is that the VLP, once developed, will look similar to the structure of SARS-CoV-2 or the virus responsible for COVID-19. This will further activate the body¡¯s natural immune response against the Coronavirus infection.

Reuters

In addition, the VLP will bind to receptors that the SARS-CoV-2 would bind to, thus limiting the possible sites for transmission. The VLP would then act as both a cure as well as a vaccine.

The proposed vaccine is currently under work by three different teams. One is working on the design of the bacteriophage delivery system, other on the design of the nano-medication that will be delivered by the nasal spray and the third is constructing and purifying the VLP to boost its immunity.

Note that the research has not yet been peer-reviewed. Once done, it will await further tests later this year. For now, we can say that the idea of a DNA-based vaccine to be administered non-invasively as a nasal spray to beat COVID-19 sounds very much plausible and a step in the right direction.

Around the world, there are almost 70 vaccines that are being developed for the novel Coronavirus, out of which three are under human trials at present. You can read all about them here.