Removing the glycans (dark blue on the left illustration) from a coronavirus’ spike protein leads to greater vaccine efficacy. Credit: Lorenzo Casalino, edited ========================================================================================= Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 use sugar molecules to hide from the immune system, but scientists at Scripps Research have designed a universal coronavirus vaccine that strips these sugars and exposes a stable, rarely mutating part of the spike protein. This approach triggered strong immune responses in animal studies and showed promise in neutralizing multiple coronaviruses, including those causing COVID-19, MERS, and even the common cold. A Sweet Shield: How Viruses Use Sugars to Hide Viruses, including those...