0
0
August 7, 2024 – A pioneering study led by researchers from the University of Houston (UH) has unveiled two groundbreaking approaches for preventing and treating respiratory viruses. Published in back-to-back papers in Nature Communications, these advancements come from the lab of Navin Varadarajan, M.D. Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UH.
NanoSTING: A Broad-Spectrum Nasal Spray
The first innovation, NanoSTING, is a nasal spray designed to activate the immune system broadly against various respiratory viruses. This novel therapeutic uses tiny fat droplets to deliver a potent immune-boosting ingredient, cGAMP, directly to the nasal mucosa. The formula has shown remarkable effectiveness in preventing infections from multiple strains of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron variants, and the flu virus.
According to Dr. Varadarajan, “Using multiple models, the team demonstrated that a single treatment with NanoSTING not only protects against pathogenic strains of SARS-CoV-2 but also prevents transmission of highly transmissible variants.” The nasal delivery ensures that the immune system is primed in the nasal compartment, effectively warding off potential infections.
NanoSTING’s advantages include its broad-spectrum capability and its single-dose administration, which contrasts with traditional antiviral treatments like Tamiflu that require multiple doses. The spray has also proven effective against both Tamiflu-sensitive and resistant strains of influenza.
NanoSTING-SN: A Pan-Coronavirus Nasal Vaccine
Complementing NanoSTING, the research team has developed NanoSTING-SN, an intranasal vaccine offering protection against a wide range of coronaviruses, including all known variants of SARS-CoV-2. This innovative vaccine is designed to both prevent disease and reduce transmission to unvaccinated individuals, potentially marking a significant step towards a universal coronavirus vaccine.
Dr. Ankita Leekha, first author and postdoctoral associate, highlights the vaccine’s potential: “The ability to protect against multiple coronaviruses and variants provides the exciting potential towards a universal coronavirus vaccine. This may finally break the cycle of onward transmission and viral evolution, particularly benefiting immunocompromised individuals.”
The NanoSTING-SN vaccine was shown to be 100% effective in preventing transmission of Omicron variants to unvaccinated hosts in preclinical models. This nasal vaccine offers a crucial advantage over traditional intramuscular vaccines by providing enhanced protection against transmission and various COVID variants.
Collaborative Efforts and Funding
The research was a collaborative effort involving Xinli Liu from the College of Pharmacy, Vallabh E. Das from the College of Optometry at UH, Brett L. Hurst from Utah State University, and consultation from AuraVax Therapeutics, a spinoff from Varadarajan’s Single Cell Lab. The studies were supported by grants from the NIH (R01GM143243), the Owens Foundation, and AuraVax Therapeutics.
As the global community continues to grapple with respiratory virus outbreaks, these developments from UH represent a significant advancement in the fight against such infectious diseases.
