<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian scientists say they have created a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coronavirus" rel="" target="" title="COVID-19"><span>COVID-19</span></a><span> vaccine that can protect against several variants of the virus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Researchers from the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney created the CoVEXS5 vaccine, which protects against five variants of the virus, including the "highly immune-evasive" Omicron XBB.1.5 variant and SARS-CoV-1, a relative of SARS-CoV-2.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Studies showed reduced virus levels in the lungs of vaccinated mice by 99.9 per cent, compared to unvaccinated controls.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-diagnosed-with-chronic-venous-insufficiency/0b3c5e8c-7e0f-4b0a-bd79-805bbe347806" target="_blank"><strong><span>Donald Trump diagnosed with 'benign' chronic venous insufficiency, White House reveals</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also triggered high levels of virus-blocking antibodies and activated special immune T-cells in the lungs, which are critical for the body to fight the virus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By combining parts of multiple coronaviruses, we've created a vaccine that can better prepare the body to fight off both current and future threats," Dr Claudio Counoupas, a researcher at the Centenary Institute's Centre for Infection and Immunity, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The CoVEXS5 vaccine features a unique version of the spike protein, fusing protein elements from several different COVID-19 variants into one single structure.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/new-covid19-vaccine-protects-against-several-variants-researchers-claim/800fcca9-8c3a-4d2e-b139-2ebe07f7f720" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Researchers say this fusion helps the immune system recognise and respond to a broader range of virus types.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/continuous-glucose-monitor-subsidy-type-2-diabetes-exclusive/6ef11a04-9a0f-4e1a-bf88-fefb90101259" target="_blank"><strong><span>Dyan is forced to choose between her health and paying rent</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The immune response we saw in the laboratory was both strong and broad," co-lead study author Elizabeth Chan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's exciting to think that this approach could help future-proof vaccines against ongoing changes in the virus."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research team is now focusing on advancing the vaccine through further testing and development.</span></div></div>