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Engineering the common cold to be a live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
Frontiers in Immunology
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Common colds, caused by human rhinoviruses, are frequent and unavoidable. Researchers are exploring engineering these viruses into vaccine vectors to induce immunity against other respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Human rhinoviruses cause common colds, with no existing vaccines or drugs.
- Rhinovirus infections are widespread across all age groups and difficult to prevent.
- Most rhinovirus strains are mild, often found in healthy individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review rhinovirus vaccine vector technology.
- To explore the potential of engineered rhinoviruses as vaccine candidates.
- To assess their suitability for protecting against other respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing rhinovirus vaccine vector technologies.
- Analysis of immune responses induced by rhinovirus infections.
- Examination of engineered replication-competent rhinovirus vaccine vectors in animal models.
Main Results:
- Rhinovirus infections elicit strong mucosal and serum immune responses.
- Several replication-competent rhinovirus vaccine vectors have been developed and tested.
- These vectors can express protective antigens from other pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Engineered rhinoviruses offer a promising strategy for a universal vaccine approach.
- Live-attenuated rhinoviruses can serve as effective vaccine vectors against various respiratory viruses.
- This technology could transform the common cold into a protective immune response against severe diseases.
