COVID-19: Cambridge University working on a vaccine which can fight all coronaviruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented crisis the world wasn't ready for. It has also made the best of medical minds and researchers toil hard to devise a vaccine in the shortest timeline.

Creating a vaccine for the new coronavirus isn't easy. But bright minds from Cambridge University are on a different mission altogether- creating a vaccine prototype which defeats all different types of coronaviruses.

The novel coronavirus, SARS-COV-2 isn't the only coronavirus known to circulate in the human world and most definitely, won't be the last one either. Coronavirus has been in circulation for a long time. 7 types of coronaviruses have been known to infect and cause diseases in humans, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERSA). While we are only starting to know how severe and impactful COVID-19 can be, coronaviruses can cause a host of respiratory disorders and have an associated fatality risk as well.

Scientists from Cambridge University, UK are hence, working to devise a vaccine which fights not just the current one, but all coronaviruses in the future. The clinical trials for the novel vaccine, which hasn't been invented before will be starting today (August 28).

The new vaccine named 'DIOS-CoVax2' has been modelled using genetic sequencing obtained from coronaviruses, known to primarily spread from bats to humans. The scientists involved in the project made use of 3D computer modelling to tap any mutations and variations which can cause damage and infect the society in the future. Interestingly, while no vaccine was ever made for past pandemics like SARS and MERSA, the new vaccine model has been made considering the dangers of their limited outbreaks as well.

The project has also peaked curiosity amongst investors and the public. The vaccine is amongst the top researched projects in the UK, with the government bestowing huge funding (close to 1.9 million pounds) on the research.

Professor Jonathan Heenhead of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics at the University of Cambridge and a key researcher involved in the project said in a statement that the team was confident of the vaccine preventing future infection spurts and epidemics.

"Our approach involves 3D computer modelling of the SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] virus'' structure. It uses information on the virus itself as well as its relatives - SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses carried by animals that threaten to 'spill-over'' to humans again to cause future human epidemics."

The Professor also commented that while developing a vaccine which targets the current virus is the top focus, they are hopeful that the vaccine will be able to deliver a good response keeping all coronaviruses at bay.

"Ultimately we aim to make a vaccine that will not only protect from SARS-CoV-2 but also other related coronaviruses that may spill over from animals to humans."

The team is working on extracting crucial parts of the virus component and targeting those domains which cause replication and contribute to spread. Using such a specific approach with the vaccine will help the team concentrate on preventing viral spread in the body, and staying safe of other complications and side-effects which could trigger a possible harmful immune response. An attack on the immune system or a bad response could trigger a host of symptoms, such as inflammation, organ damage, prolong recovery- some of which COVID diagnosed patients are currently witnessing.

The DNA vector stimulation which the vaccine maker is depending on has already shown positive response in early-stage trials. The model was able to deliver safe and expected immunogenicity response in tested pathogens, according to the University

The research facility has also been working on creating antigen (foreign substance which triggers or spikes immune response in the body) structures, which could also train our immune systems to be smarter, and produce an anti-viral response in good time. Such an approach would help restrict the spread of infections and keep the risk of illness to a minimum in the future. The smarter and more efficient our system is, the easier it will be to fight out viruses and other dangerous germs.

It's becoming extensively clear that there exists a possibility that the novel coronavirus could continue to stay with us for a long time. Many other coronaviruses, could make their way and infect humans as well. To prevent future epidemics and pandemics, what we need is a smarter vaccine which suits all age groups, and a preventive strategy such as the Cambridge vaccine could help solve the crisis.

The group developing the vaccine is also making use of a new vaccine technology, which uses synthetic DNA design to deliver custom vaccines and antigens. Researchers believe that this technology is better suited than any other vaccine technology, and lessens the risk of side-effects, which is one of the biggest problems we can face when a COVID vaccine is used at a public level in the future course of time.

For one, the synthetic vaccine will be able to help the elderly and high-risk, more vulnerable sect of people, which will be a big advantage for them.

"Most research groups have used established approaches to vaccine development because of the urgent need to tackle the pandemic. We all hope the current clinical trials have a positive outcome, but even successful vaccines are likely to have their limitations - they may be unsuitable for vulnerable people, and we do not know how long their effects will last for, for example," Dr Rebecca Kinsley, Post-Doctoral Researcher and Chief Operating Officer of DIOSynVax mentioned in a briefing.

The pricing and easy administration, which could be delivered using a novel spring injection and cause no pain is also a beneficial talking point which could peg the Cambridge vaccine above others.

"Our approach - using synthetic DNA to deliver custom-designed, immune selected vaccine antigens - is revolutionary and is ideal for complex viruses such as coronavirus. If successful, it will result in a vaccine that should be safe for the widespread use and that can be manufactured and distributed at low cost," said Dr Kinsley.

Unlike other traditional vaccines, the synthetic vaccine can be free-dried in powder form and won't require cold storage. It will make the job of production, transport and administration easier. The clinical trials for the vaccine will also be conducted in the same way, which would be the first of its kind in the world.

The vaccine, currently in its leg of pre-clinical trials is expected to head to human trials later this year.