AI-designed DNA vaccine targets broad coronavirus family in first human trial

Cambridge researchers used AI to design a DNA vaccine that targets conserved features across the sarbecovirus family (including SARS, SARS-CoV-2, and related bat viruses). In the first human trial, the vaccine was safe, delivered without needles, and prompted antibodies recognizing diverse sarbecoviruses, but immune responses were modest and longer trials are needed to assess real-world protection; while a universal, pandemic-proof vaccine is still years away, this marks a meaningful step forward.