Virus variant defence hope

The first trials have begun of a Covid booster jab that is hoped to protect against a range of variants.

Covid jabs currently used in the UK trigger an immune response towards the coronavirus spike protein, which helps the virus get into human cells. However, different variants of the virus have different mutations in this protein.

the spike protein but also the nucleocapsid protein. This varies much less than the spike protein and therefore the hope is that it will be more proof against current and future variants,” said Prof Andrew Ustianowski, a consultant at North Manchester General hospital, and chief investigator for the study.

The phase 1 trial is a collaboration between the US pharmaceutical firm Gritstone, the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS foundation trust.