A vaccine entirely designed by artificial intelligence and tested for the first time on humans could open a new phase in the prevention of infectious diseases. Developed by a team led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, the preparation was conceived to offer broad protection against entire families of viruses, including variants not yet emerged. The first clinical results confirmed the safety of the technology, which aims to surpass the traditional model of continuous vaccine updating.
THE FIRST VACCINE DESIGNED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The new vaccine, according to Bbc, represents the first case of an antigen developed entirely through artificial intelligence systems and subsequently tested on humans. The project was carried out by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Southampton together with the biotechnology company DIOSynVax.
The goal of the research is to develop vaccines capable of protecting not only against already known viruses but also against future mutations and pathogens that could jump from animals to humans. “We have shifted vaccine development from a reactive approach to a future-oriented one,” said Jonathan Heeney, the study’s scientific lead.
HOW THE SUPER-ANTIGEN WORKS
At the core of the vaccine is an active component called the “super-antigen.” To create it, researchers collected all available genetic sequences of coronaviruses belonging to the Sarbecovirus group, a family of zoonotic viruses that primarily circulate in bats and can also infect other mammals and humans.
The AI analyzed this data, identifying common features among the different viruses and designing a synthetic protein capable of reproducing them. In this way, the immune system is trained to recognize elements shared by numerous coronaviruses, rather than a single specific variant. According to the researchers, this could allow broader protection even in the presence of new mutations. “It’s about creating a single vaccine capable of protecting us from all these viruses based on their evolutionary relationships,” Heeney explained.
GOING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL VACCINE MODEL
Vaccines currently in use are generally developed from viral strains already identified in the human population. However, this approach can be limited when viruses evolve rapidly, as happens with seasonal flu or coronaviruses.
“Viruses like influenza, coronaviruses, and the Ebola group are constantly evolving, and by the time vaccines are distributed, they may no longer be perfectly suited. The current reactive vaccine system struggles to keep up,” said Saul Faust, professor at the University of Southampton and head of the trial.
Heeney emphasized the same concept, highlighting that “what we are trying to do is get ahead of the curve” and achieve effective protection even against future epidemics and pandemics.
THE CLINICAL TRIAL
The trial, whose phase I results were published in the scientific journal Journal of Infection, involved 39 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 50 years vaccinated during the study.
The vaccine was administered through an innovative technology that does not require needles. A high-pressure microfluidic jet introduces the vaccine material directly into skin cells via an extremely thin liquid stream.
According to the researchers, the preparation was well tolerated at all tested dosage levels, and no significant safety issues emerged. The study also showed activation of an immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, against the SARS virus, and against related coronaviruses present in bats that could potentially jump to humans.
THE ADVANTAGES
Besides the use of artificial intelligence, another distinctive feature of the project concerns the delivery system. The absence of needles, notes Euronews, eliminates medical waste associated with sharp devices and could promote wider vaccination coverage in contexts where syringe use represents a barrier.
The researchers also highlight that this type of vaccine tends to be more stable to temperature variations compared to some mRNA-based platforms and does not require an ultra-cold cold chain, an aspect that could facilitate its use in low- and middle-income countries and in health emergency situations.
THE NEXT PHASES OF THE RESEARCH
After the results obtained in the initial phase, the team is preparing to start a phase II clinical trial that should involve over 200 participants. The goal will be to verify the vaccine’s ability to generate a robust and broadly protective immune response in a larger and more diverse population.
At the same time, researchers are applying the same approach to developing universal vaccines against seasonal influenza, the H5N1 avian influenza virus, and viral hemorrhagic fevers that include various Ebola species. “This represents a fundamental shift in how we prepare for pandemics,” Heeney said. “It’s not just about protecting us from today’s viruses, but also from those that could cause the next epidemic or the next disease.”
