Thread by @NewsBytesApp

Researchers have developed a "universal" vaccine for coronaviruses, which has been found to protect mice against COVID-19, along with other group 2B coronaviruses. #VaccinationUpdate
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The study—led by scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Global Public Health—found that the vaccine protected the mice against a dangerous COVID-19 variant as well.

The research, published in the Science journal, was conducted by a team of scientists from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

For the "universal" vaccine, the researchers utilized mRNA from multiple coronaviruses and welded them together, said a statement from the UNC. #Pfizer and #Moderna vaccines also use this technology. However, they use mRNA from only one virus.

The hybrid mRNA vaccine managed to generate neutralizing antibodies in mice against multiple spike proteins (used by coronaviruses to latch onto host cells). One of these spike proteins is associated with the B.1.351 variant of SARS-CoV-2, first detected in South Africa.

Study author Dr. Ralph Baric, said, "The vaccine has the potential to prevent outbreaks when used as a new variant is detected." The researchers focused on SARS-CoV-2 and other 2B coronaviruses, belonging to the subgenus sarbecovirus.

Two sarbecoviruses, SARS-CoV-1 (2002-04 SARS epidemic) and SARS-CoV-2 (ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), have had devastating impacts in the past 20 years. Focusing on the group of coronaviruses, which has the potential to jump from animals to humans, may help prevent future pandemics.