Using the common cold virus as a naturally occurring vaccine to prevent COVID-19: Lessons from Edward Jenner

Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Oct 13;12(19):18797-18803. doi: 10.18632/aging.104166. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

Abstract

Three recent papers published in Nature, Science and Cell, all present clear evidence that there is cross-reactive T-cell immunity between human coronaviruses (229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1), linked with the common cold, and SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Can we use this information to design and build a new vaccine based on the less pathogenic, common cold coronaviruses, for the prevention of COVID-19? If we look at the history of medicine and vaccine development, from the point of view of Edward Jenner, the answer just might be yes.

Keywords: COVID-19; common cold; coronavirus; vaccine; viral spike glycoprotein.