Researchers developing aerosol vaccine against pneumonia

A low-cost, needle-free vaccine has the potential to revolutionise immunisation efforts worldwide, according to a scientist in Liverpool.

The vaccine, which is applied like a nasal-spray, is being developed by Liverpool John Moores University and the Butantan Institute in Brazil, an agency linked to the State Department of Health.

Together they are developing an aerosol against infections from the pneumococcal bacterium (streptococcus pneumoniae), which causes bacterial pneumonia, otitis, meningitis and sepsis, among other conditions.

“This project is incredibly exciting and holds immense promise for public health,” said Imran Saleem, Professor in Nanomedicine and Head of the Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Group at LJMU.

“Imagine protection with a simple breath against illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.”

By targeting the lungs directly and eliminating the need for cold storage, the vaccine eliminates the complexities associated with traditional injectable vaccines. And the ease of use promises to improve vaccine uptake, especially in communities where traditional injection practices are challenging.

The team claims that the dry formulation and simplified storage make distribution easier and more cost-effective, allowing vaccines to reach the most remote and underserved populations.

The vaccine is composed of nanoparticles containing pneumococcal proteins which are different to those used in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). These are made up of polysaccharides of different pneumococcal serotypes conjugated with proteins; and polysaccharide vaccines (PPVs), which contain pneumococcus-free polysaccharides in their composition.

The vaccine should act directly on lung protection against pneumonia, as it forms a barrier against the bacteria at the site of entry into the body.

Eliane Miyaji at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Butantan Institute, said: "Current formulations are very expensive and complex and have specific protection for some serotypes. The idea of this vaccine is that this does not happen, because it is a vaccine independent of serotype and at a lower cost because it does not need to purify each polysaccharide of the different serotypes separately.”

After highly promising early tests, the team is preparing to submit a new project for funding for preclinical trials.

The project has been funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) in the UK.