New Delhi: Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have developed a new nasal COVID-19 vaccine designed to offer broad protection against existing and future coronavirus variants. This innovative nanovaccine aims to shield against known strains such as Delta and Omicron, as well as potential future mutations that could cause new pandemics, South China Morning Post reported.
The Wuhan Institute, known for its long-standing research into bat coronaviruses, has faced scrutiny over claims that COVID-19 may have accidentally leaked from its facilities. Despite these controversies, the institute has continued its work with strong support from the Chinese government. The new vaccine combines coronavirus epitopes with ferritin, a blood protein, to create nanoparticles that show promise for long-lasting immunity.
In tests on mice, the vaccine demonstrated effectiveness against multiple Sars-CoV-2 variants and potential protection against other coronaviruses. The researchers published their findings in the journal ACS Nano, highlighting the need for vaccines that offer broad-spectrum protection in light of ongoing and future threats from coronavirus mutations.
Natural outbreak vs. lab leak theory
The origins of Sars-CoV-2 remain under investigation. The prevailing view suggests the virus emerged from animals, with bats as the main suspects, before infecting humans, possibly through an intermediary species. However, the theory that the virus might have leaked from a laboratory, particularly the Wuhan Institute, has also been a subject of significant debate.
In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) conducted an investigation into the origins of COVID-19, visiting Wuhan and exploring various theories. While the lab-leak theory was deemed “extremely unlikely,” the debate continues, driven by Wuhan’s status as a hub for coronavirus research and reports of illness among lab workers prior to the pandemic.
