Researchers in Spain and Mexico advance vaccine and antiviral technologies

Researchers in Spain and Mexico have announced significant advancements in immunological technology and viral defense.

A team from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, led by María Yáñez-Mó, has developed a platform of synthetic nanovesicles designed to enhance vaccine efficacy. Inspired by natural extracellular vesicles, these nanovesicles are coated with CD9-LEL to facilitate contact with immune cells. Testing on leishmaniasis and SARS-CoV-2 antigens demonstrated that the vesicles are effectively absorbed by macrophages, triggering specific immune responses. The researchers noted the system’s versatility in handling complex and emerging pathogens.

Separately, investigators at the Universidad Anáhuac México, led by Dr. Rosalino Vázquez López, have discovered that a bacterial lysate can reduce the replication of influenza A virus variants (H1N1 and H3N2). The study, published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, showed that the lysate interacts with dendritic cells to activate immune defense mechanisms. The research utilized human-derived cells to test both pre-exposure and post-infection scenarios, highlighting the potential of postbiotics in managing viral infections.