Researchers from the St. Petersburg-based Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza are working on a vaccine against the novel coronavirus infection on the basis of a flu virus, a spokesman for the institute told TASS on June 2.
“The Research Institute of Influenza is developing a vaccine against the novel coronavirus infection on the basis of a flu virus. We take an attenuated version of this virus and use it as a vector to transport coronavirus proteins to provoke immune response that will ensure protection against the disease,” the spokesman said. “Importantly, the immune response is developed in the respiratory tract, since the coronavirus is an air-borne virus and hits lungs.”
According to the spokesman, the conservative part of the flu virus will be used to enter cells.
The spokesman did not say however at which stage of development the researchers are.