Washington, July 5 (SANA)An experimental DNA-based nasalvaccinehas shown promising results againsttuberculosis(TB) in animal studies, raising hopes for a more effective treatment for one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

The vaccine, developed by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, targets dormant and drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria, according to a study published in theJournal of Clinical Investigationand reported by ScienceDaily.

Researchers said the vaccine accelerated the elimination of tuberculosis bacteria, reduced lung inflammation and lowered the risk of the infection returning after treatment in laboratory animals.

They cautioned that further research is needed before the vaccine can be tested in human clinical trials.

Tuberculosis is abacterial diseasethat primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is treatable and curable with antibiotics when diagnosed early and treated appropriately.