'World's first' vaccine designed by AI goes to trial

Artificial intelligence has been used to create a groundbreaking new type of vaccine that researchers believe could provide protection against a broad range of viruses and help prevent future pandemics.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge say this is the first time the core component of a vaccine has been designed entirely by AI and subsequently tested on human volunteers, reports BBC. 

The vaccine was developed to target the entire coronavirus family, including existing Covid-19 variants as well as related viruses circulating in animals that could potentially trigger future outbreaks.

Although the research remains at an early stage, the team is already applying the same technology to develop vaccines against influenza and Ebola, added the BBC report.

Vaccines work by teaching the immune system to recognise and respond to infections. However, many viruses constantly evolve through mutation, making existing vaccines less effective over time. This is one reason why Covid-19 and seasonal flu vaccines require regular updates.

Professor Jonathan Heeney of the University of Cambridge said current vaccine development often lags behind rapidly changing viruses. The goal of the new approach is to stay ahead by creating protection not only against existing strains but also against viruses that could emerge in the future.

Traditionally, vaccines are built around currently circulating virus strains. In this study, researchers collected genetic data from numerous coronaviruses identified through surveillance programmes monitoring potential viral threats.

An AI system then analysed these genetic sequences and designed what researchers call a "super-antigen" — a vaccine component intended to train the immune system to recognise and defend against a wide range of related viruses, including those that mutate or jump from animals to humans.

Antigens are the key elements of vaccines because they trigger the immune response that prepares the body to fight infection.

According to Heeney, this marks the first human trial of an AI-designed antigen. He described the technology as highly promising and said its capabilities have exceeded expectations.

"This is about creating vaccines that protect us not only from today's viruses, but also from those that could cause the next outbreak," he said, describing the approach as a major change in pandemic preparedness.

The initial trial involved 39 participants and focused primarily on assessing safety. A larger study involving about 200 people is now underway to better evaluate how effectively the vaccine stimulates the immune system.

Results published in the Journal of Infection showed that the immune response generated by the vaccine was modest, but researchers remain optimistic about its long-term potential.

Professor Saul Faust of the University of Southampton, who helped conduct some of the trials, said the AI-designed vaccine approach shows considerable promise, particularly for combating rapidly evolving viruses with pandemic potential.

The Cambridge team is also testing universal flu vaccines in animals that could eliminate the need for annual reformulation. Researchers are additionally working on an H5N1 bird flu vaccine in case the virus, which is currently affecting bird populations, develops into a human pandemic.

Another area of focus is vaccines for viral haemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola. The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo involves a strain for which no approved vaccine is yet available.

Professor Andy Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who was not involved in the study, said the approach has already produced compelling results in animal research.

He noted that the findings are particularly intriguing because such immune responses were not previously expected. However, he emphasised that the most important test will be the outcome of human trials, as human immune systems differ significantly from those of laboratory animals.

More broadly, Pollard said AI is likely to transform vaccine development by helping scientists predict immune responses more accurately, accelerating research and potentially saving lives.

Professor Marian Knight, scientific director at the National Institute for Health and Care Research, described the successful trial of the AI-designed "super-antigen" as a significant milestone that could pave the way for broader and more durable protection against viral diseases.