"Chinese Research Institute Suspected of COVID Leak Announces 'Universal Vaccine Development'"

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A virus research institute located in China announced that it has developed a universal COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 12th (local time), the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, stated in a paper published in the academic journal ACS Nano last June that it had developed a nano vaccine (a vaccine in the form of nanoparticles) candidate that counters existing COVID-19 variants and potential future variants. The research team pointed out that existing vaccines only prevented the spread of COVID-19 and reduced mortality rates, but none of them could respond to a wide range of variants.

They further claimed, "By combining coronavirus antigen determinants with the blood protein ferritin, it is possible to create an intranasal nano molecular vaccine capable of countering various COVID-19 variants such as Omicron, WIV04, and Delta." They also mentioned, "Through experiments on mice, we confirmed the potential of this nano molecular vaccine to continuously and broadly combat different forms of coronaviruses," adding, "This is effective in preventing the spread and infection of future variants." Furthermore, they stated, "The pandemic caused by future variants highlights the need for vaccines with a broad spectrum," and expressed confidence that "the nano vaccine we developed could be a strong candidate for a universal coronavirus vaccine."

Meanwhile, the Wuhan Institute of Virology is a virus research institution affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, established in 1956. This institute has been embroiled in suspicions of having leaked the coronavirus, with former U.S. President Donald Trump also claiming during his tenure that "the Wuhan Institute of Virology is the origin of COVID-19." In fact, the first reported COVID-19 infection in China was in Wuhan in January 2020. At that time, China locked down Wuhan for 76 days and deployed over 40,000 medical personnel nationwide to respond.