The need for more holistic immune profiling in next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trials

Abstract

First-generation anit-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were highly successful. They rapidly met an unforeseen emergency need, saved millions of lives, and simultaneously eased the burden on healthcare systems worldwide. The first-generation vaccines, however, focused too narrowly on antibody-based immunity as the sole marker of vaccine trial success, resulting in large knowledge gaps about waning vaccine protection, lack of vaccine robustness to viral mutation, and lack of efficacy in immunocompromised populations. Detailed reviews of first-generation vaccines, including their mode of action and geographical distribution, have been published elsewhere. Second-generation clinical trials must address these gaps by evaluating a broader range of immune markers, including those representing cell-mediated immunity, to ensure the most protective and long-lasting vaccines are brought to market.

A next-generation intranasal trivalent MMS vaccine induces durable and broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

“…5 ). All current COVID-19 vaccines are delivered intramuscularly and induce robust immunity in the blood but lack the mucosal antibody response in the nose and airways ( 26 , 27 ). Thus, they effectively prevent morbidity and mortality but not prevent infection and transmission as efficiently.…”