February 19, 2026

expert reaction to study in mice on a vaccine for various pathogens

A study published in Science looks at a vaccine in mice that provides protection from various pathogens. 

Prof Daniela Ferreira, Professor of Vaccinology, University of Oxford, said:

“This is a really exciting piece of research that could change how we protect people from common coughs, colds and other respiratory infections, if the results, currently in mice, are confirmed in further human studies. What makes this study stand out is that, in mice, a nasal vaccine was able to rapidly generate T cells that reprogrammed alveolar macrophages present in the lung to protect against a broad range of infections  — even against germs the body hadn’t seen before.

“Over our lifetime, we’re constantly exposed to viruses and bacteria that infect the airways. As a result, most of us carry “memory” immune cells, including some that live in the lining of the nose and lungs. This research shows it may be possible to use that existing immune memory as a foundation for broadly protection – even of unrelated pathogens. Rather than designing a jab against just one specific virus, this approach boosts a coordinated response in the lungs that can help protect against a range of different respiratory infections. In mice this protection last for at least 3 months.

“One of the strengths of the study is that it explains in detail how this works. The researchers show that vaccine-activated T cells — a type of white blood cell — can “reprogramme” other immune cells in the lungs, called macrophages, leaving them in a heightened state of readiness.

“The biggest unknowns are whether the same effect can be achieved in humans, and for how long protection might persist — for example, whether it could cover a high-risk winter season or would need regular boosting.

“Carefully designed human studies, where volunteers are vaccinated and then safely exposed to mild respiratory infections under medical supervision – called human challenge models – could help answer these questions more quickly.

“If this strategy proves safe and effective in people — particularly as a nasal vaccine that strengthens immunity directly in the airways — it could mark a major step forward, offering broader and more durable protection against the everyday infections that place such a heavy burden on individuals and health services alike.”

Prof Jonathan Ball, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; and Professor of Molecular Virology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), said:

“Essentially, this ‘universal vaccine’ approach, currently only tested in mice, isn’t so much about training the ‘specialist snipers’  – your adaptive immunity –  to look for one specific target, it uses more generalist innate immunity system to get a variety of cells – not just immune cells but the cells of the organ itself – into permanent readiness for a fight. This heightened state of alert can persist for months, turning the organ into a hostile environment for any intruder. If future studies confirm that this approach is also viable in humans, it would mean that your body could instantly fend off a wide variety of uninvited visitors – even a completely new virus or bug – well before the specialists have been alerted. It can also mean that those specialists can respond to the new threat more quickly than normal.

“Whilst exciting, there are still big steps to take before a truly universal vaccine becomes a reality. The key questions are: will it work as effectively in humans and is it safe? We already see ‘off-target’ protection in people who receive certain vaccines, suggesting the potential is real. However, we have to ensure that keeping the body on ‘high alert’ doesn’t lead to friendly fire, where a hyper-ready immune system accidentally triggers unwelcomed side-effects.”

Prof Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

“The study claiming a “universal respiratory vaccine” sound too good to be true, but the researchers may have hit on a new concept for vaccination, if the results in mice are confirmed in future studies in humans. The concept is based on mimicking the signals that our immune cells use for protection, rather than traditional vaccines that rely on components from individual infectious agents. The new vaccine stimulates multiple parts of the immune system that appear to account for the broad protection in mice.

“It is a potentially promising approach that could have wide applications and implications, however, it is early days and the studies to date are in mice, though demonstrating good immune responses. The next stage would be fully controlled vaccine protection studies, directly comparing results with existing vaccine formulations, though there is a long road to go before we’ll know if this approach produces a safe and effective vaccine for humans.”

‘Mucosal vaccination in mice provides protection from diverse respiratory threats’ by Haibo Zhang et al. was published in Science at 19:00 UK time on Thursday 19 February 2026. 

DOI: 10.1126/science.aea1260

Declared interests

Prof Brendan Wren: “I have no declarations of interest”.

Prof Jonathan Ball: “No CoIs”

Prof Daniela Ferreira: “I received funds for research given to my department for vaccine research and mucosal immunity of respiratory pathogens from Pfizer, MSD, EIT and research council. 

“I am a JCVI member, and hold a part time position at the Ellison Institute of technology in Oxford.”