Mucosal vaccination in mice provides protection from diverse respiratory threats

Science. 2026 May 21;392(6800):eaea1260. doi: 10.1126/science.aea1260. Epub 2026 May 21.

Abstract

Traditional vaccines target specific pathogens, limiting their scope against diverse respiratory threats. We describe an intranasal liposomal formulation combining toll-like receptor 4 and 7/8 ligands with a model antigen, ovalbumin, which provided broad, durable protection in mice for at least 3 months against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the vaccine protected mice from other viruses (SARS-CoV-2, SARS, SHC014 coronavirus), bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii), and allergens. Protection was mediated by persistent ovalbumin-specific CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells that imprinted alveolar macrophages (AMs), enhancing antigen presentation and antiviral immunity. Following infection, vaccinated mice mounted rapid pathogen-specific T cell and antibody responses and formed ectopic lymphoid structures in the lung. These results reveal a class of "universal vaccines" against diverse respiratory threats.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Bacterial Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Vaccines* / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology
  • COVID-19* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Immunity, Mucosal
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Liposomes
  • Lung / immunology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology
  • Male
  • Memory T Cells / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology
  • Vaccination
  • Viral Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines* / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Liposomes
  • Ovalbumin
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Viral Vaccines