The protective effect of established COVID-19 vaccines is initially very robust, but wanes relatively quickly. This limitation imposes a need for periodic booster shots, which drives vaccine hesitation. In contrast, an innovative developed at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) presents a compelling alternative.
It elicits prolonged in animal models, and maintains its efficacy over extended time. The concept employs an animal cytomegalovirus (MCMV; murine cytomegalovirus) as the vector that expresses and delivers the coronavirus spike protein information. Crucially, this vector poses no threat to humans, enhancing the vaccine's safety profile.
In 2022, researchers from the department Viral Immunology headed by Prof. Luka Cicin-Sain at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research reported on the novel vector vaccine for the first time. The promising immunogenic profile of the MCMV-based vaccine has now been shown to protect against disease.
A recent publication with the involvement of national and international research partner institutions, such as the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin and the University of Rijeka in Croatia, demonstrates lasting and broad immune responses and antiviral protection in the mouse model. The work is in the journal . Using an animal cytomegalovirus that cannot replicate in human cells as a vector is a clever move, because it combines high immunogenicity of a natural infection with the safety of a non-replicating vector.
In vector vaccin.