University of Waterloo researchers in Canada are developing a DNA-based vaccine candidate that can be given via nasal route to protect from Covid-19 infection.
The vaccine will use bacteriophage-based approach, which will allow it to replicate within bacteria already present in the body, formulated to act on tissues in the nasal cavity and lower respiratory tract.
The aim is to deliver the vaccine to cells in targeted tissues and trigger the production of a virus-like particle (VLP) that will induce an immune response.
While the VLP will look similar to the SARS-CoV-2 structure, it is harmless, said the researchers. This similarity will stimulate the body’s natural immune response against viral infections similar to the VLP, including