Research Shows Global Vaccine Will Combat COVID-19

A study conducted by military doctors from the Walter Reed Institute under the leadership of Morgan Rolland, head of the genetic program, shows that the mutation of the coronavirus that occurred from December 2019 to the present suggests that a vaccine will be sufficient for successful infection control.

To characterize the changes in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic to the present, scientists examined 18,514 different RNA genes of the virus taken from patients in 84 countries, and then scanned the biological material for changes.

Analyses showed low estimates of genetic differentiation since the initial outbreak and indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 genome has primarily evolved as a result of random processes rather than adapting to the human body it has entered.

Scientists noted that the frequency of the D614G mutation rapidly increased at the beginning of the epidemic, but they linked this mutation to certain adaptive forces. When viruses replicate and spread among people, some mutations are expected, but some may arise.

Given the low level of genetic changes, the expected vaccine is likely to be equally effective against all strains of the COVID-19 virus.

“The previously established diversity of the virus raised doubts about the possibility of developing a vaccine against such viruses as influenza or dengue fever, human immunodeficiency virus, but global samples clearly demonstrate to us that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has less diversity than the previously mentioned viruses,” says Rolland.

“Therefore, we express optimism regarding the development of a vaccine with broad coverage against COVID-19.”

Scientists are making every effort to accelerate the development of this vaccine, making it safe and effective for the entire world. The data obtained from the research may be crucial, scientists believe.

“Based on years of experience in developing vaccines against other viruses and recent work on coronaviruses, we were able to quickly focus research efforts on combating this pandemic, which threatens global health and military readiness,” says co-author of the study Kayvon Mojarad.

The military virus research program WRAIR was established 127 years ago to combat similar types of health threats and has played a role in the development of nearly half of the vaccines used in modern society.

Rolland, whose research typically focuses on the viral genetics of HIV, shifted her attention to COVID-19 during the current global health emergency. “It is very important for people from different fields of science to come together as we focus on studying everything we can learn about this virus,” she said.

“Teamwork will be vital to curbing the wave of this pandemic.”