Nasal Spray Vaccine Offers Universal Protection Against Respiratory Threats

Researchers develop a single vaccine that shields mice from viruses, bacteria, and allergens

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new intranasal vaccine that provides broad protection against a wide range of respiratory threats, including SARS-CoV-2, other coronaviruses, bacterial infections, and common allergens. The vaccine works by stimulating both the innate and adaptive immune systems, creating a sustained immune response in the lungs that can neutralize diverse pathogens. In animal studies, vaccinated mice were protected for several months against viral, bacterial, and allergic challenges.

Why it matters

If successfully translated to humans, this universal vaccine could replace the need for multiple seasonal shots and provide a bulwark against future respiratory pandemics. By targeting the lungs directly, the vaccine offers a new approach to immunization that goes beyond the antigen-specific vaccines that have been the standard for over 200 years.

The details

The vaccine, called GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA, mimics the signals that immune cells use to communicate with each other during an infection. It contains a harmless antigen (ovalbumin) that recruits T cells to the lungs, which then send cytokine signals to activate innate immune cells like dendritic cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. This integrated innate and adaptive immune response provides broad and durable protection, with vaccinated mice showing 700-fold lower viral loads compared to unvaccinated mice when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory threats.

  • The study was published in the journal Science in February 2026.

The players

Bali Pulendran

The Violetta L. Horton Professor II and a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University, who is the senior author of the study.

Haibo Zhang

A postdoctoral scholar in Pulendran's lab and the lead author of the study.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What's remarkable about the innate system is that it can protect against a broad range of different microbes.”

— Bali Pulendran, Professor (Science)

“I think what we have is a universal vaccine against diverse respiratory threats.”

— Bali Pulendran, Professor (Science)

What’s next

The researchers hope to test the vaccine in humans next, first in a Phase I safety trial, then, if successful, in a larger trial in which vaccinated people are exposed to infections. Pulendran estimates that with enough funding, a universal respiratory vaccine could be available in five to seven years.

The takeaway

This innovative vaccine approach that integrates both innate and adaptive immunity could transform medical practice by providing broad and durable protection against a wide range of respiratory threats, potentially replacing the need for multiple seasonal shots and offering a new defense against future pandemics.