India, June 9 -- A new AI-designed 'universal' coronavirus vaccine trialled at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) could protect against viruses that have yet to emerge - potentially saving millions of lives and avoiding costly lockdowns.

A team at the University of Cambridge and spin-out company DIOSynVax used all the available genetic sequence data logged by surveillance programmes around the world relating a large group of viruses including SARS-CoV-2, which caused the COVID pandemic.

This led to the creation of a 'super antigen' containing all features common to these viruses, known as Sarbeco coronaviruses, with the aim of providing lasting protection against multiple viruses even as they mutate.

This was subject to a trial invo...