Will we ever see a universal anti-coronavirus vaccine? (2)

The way out of trouble and the Holy Grail of current efforts is the development of a universal vaccine against coronaviruses. A number of teams are already working on this. While the current vaccines have been successfully in providing protection from the current mutations of SARS-CoV-2, it is becoming clear that we need a vaccine to protect us from future possible mutations of the virus. In each subsequent encounter with a completely new mutation, this vaccine should at least provide protection from the more severe forms of the disease. Instead of reacting to a new coronavirus mutation, we would like to move ahead of the virus and gain immunity in advance.

Coronaviruses belong to a very wide and diverse group of viruses which cause infection in both humans and animals. Especially after the experience with the previous serious diseases brought about by the MERS and SARS coronaviruses, scientists estimate that a number of other animal-borne coronaviruses have the potential to cause future pandemics. Because humans continue to expand into formerly remote areas and restrict the natural habitat of many animal species, it is most likely just a question of time when a new infection – and this does not solely concern coronaviruses – may appear. Therefore, the first step is in developing a universal vaccine capable of preventing serious infection of all the future mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Another, substantially more difficult step requiring international collaboration is the development of a universal vaccine which protects from a wide range of coronaviruses. This presupposes an enormous amount of work involving the study of the structure and properties of known coronaviruses and discovering variants borne by animal hosts still unknown to us. Using powerful computers and collaboration between disciplines such as biology, genetics, immunology, artificial intelligence and others, the coronaviruses which have the highest potential of being transmitted from animals to humans will primarily be identified. The ultimate objective is to find areas in the coronavirus structures which do not change and are not subject to mutation and against which future universal vaccines can be directed. This is paralleled by the effort to ensure that the vaccines provide, if possible, long-term immunity.

In practical terms, clinical laboratories now mainly test for protective IgG antibodies against Covid-19 after vaccination. The antibody test is a part of the information about the organism’s immune response to the vaccine. It is, of course, simply a relative part of the picture of our immunity since it does not say anything about another part of the immune system, specifically cellular immunity, which is substantially more complicated and costly to test. But if antibodies have been formed, we may assume that the appropriate cellular immunity has also been formed. The price of an IgG antibody test in laboratories now hovers around CZK 500. At EUC Laboratoře s.r.o., it costs CZK 490. The result is commonly available within two working days and is usually delivered by secure e-mail plus a password on a mobile device.

Universal vaccines are a great hope for the future. Another eagerly anticipated innovation is a universal anti-influenza vaccine, which would protect us from all future mutations of the virus and provide immunity for many years, thereby eliminating the need for annual vaccination and preventing severe forms of the disease and death.