Scientists have developed a tri-valent vaccine using a nanoparticle that can protect against three different deadly coronaviruses and has show to be successful in experimental studies.

Developed by researchers at Duke University, the single nanoparticle vaccine can fight SARS-CoV-2 -- which is the virus that causes COVID-19, another form of SARS coronavirus that can infect humans, and a MERS coronavirus that has led to periodic, deadly outbreaks around the world.

“We are making important progress toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine,” said senior author Kevin O. Saunders, associate director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.

"These are pathogens that cause or have the potential to cause significant human infections and loss of life, and a single vaccine that provides protection could slow down or even prevent another pandemic," he added.

Saunders and team built the tri-valent vaccine using a nanoparticle loaded with a key fragment called a receptor binding domain from each of the coronaviruses.

The fragment -- a docking site on the virus that enables it to infiltrate the body’s cells -- provides enough information for immune cells to build an effective response against actual coronaviruses that enter the body.

In earlier studies in experimental models, the researchers demonstrated that an earlier iteration of the nanoparticle vaccine was effective against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Human tests are planned next year for a version that carries immunogens to different SARS-CoV-2 strains, including those that have dominated since the original outbreak in late 2019. In lab studies, as well as in experimental models, the researchers found that the vaccine candidate generated inhibitory immune molecules called antibodies against all three pathogenic human coronavirus types.

Importantly, the vaccinated experimental model did not grow sick when challenged with either SARS-like or MERS-like viruses.

“This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that a single vaccine that protects against both MERS and SARS viruses is an achievable goal,” Saunders said.

“Given that one MERS and two SARS viruses have infected humans in the last two decades, the development of universal coronavirus vaccines is a global health priority.”