A next-generation inhaled aerosol COVID-19 vaccine boosts lung immunity in human
A new inhaled aerosol vaccine using chimpanzee adenoviral vectors induces robust mucosal immunity in the lungs, including T cell, innate, and antibody responses, providing broader protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants. This strategy is superior to intramuscular mRNA vaccines and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall design: Bronchoalveolar lavages were collected from individuals before and 4 weeks after receiving an inhaled aerosol next-generation COVID-19 vaccine. Cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were cryopreserved and later revived for analysis. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) were enriched and cultured in vitro with or without stimulation using Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole cell lysate (WCL), a bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern cocktail. After stimulation, RNA was extracted from the AMs and subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to assess transcriptional changes associated with vaccination and innate immune training.