A chicken egg immunoglobulin-based intranasal vaccine is effective against all coronavirus variants and is well tolerated.
Scientists from the United States and Australia conducted preclinical trials of an intranasal vaccine against COVID-19, the active element of which was derived from chicken eggs.
SARS-CoV-2, as it is already known, enters the body primarily through the nasal mucosa. Antibodies given intranasally, or through the nose, can so play a critical role in infection prevention.
Experts have found a cheap way to get a lot of antibodies for COVID-19 vaccines quickly.
They gave the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the hens. Two to three weeks later, enough IgY antibodies were found in chicken eggs.
Intranasal drops containing the resultant antibodies were found to be safe and well tolerated in healthy adults in phase I clinical trials.
Chicken IgY antibodies minimize the chance of severe immunological reactions, which is one of its advantages. None of the subjects tested positive for IgY or had an elevated serum cytokine level, indicating that antibodies are not absorbed into the bloodstream.
Scientists believe that people with rheumatoid factor and compromised immune systems, as well as the elderly and young, could benefit from such a vaccine. The only exception is if you are allergic to egg yolks.
Source: medRxiv
Image Credit: Getty
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