Uncategorized

Scientists prove new approach to polio vaccine works

Published by

Scientists have identified new ways to provide vaccines against polio, which do not require the growth of live virus for their manufacture.

Despite the success of vaccines produced from ‘virus-like particles’ (VLPs) for hepatitis B and human papilloma viruses, poliovirus VLPs have proved to be too unstable to make practical vaccines.

Now, a research team at the University of Leeds has found a new way to modify these VLPs, also known as ‘empty capsids’ by identifying mutations which make their structures sufficiently stable to act as vaccines, the institution made it known in a release.

The empty capsids change shape when warmed and become unusable as vaccines, but the mutations identified in this research prevent these damaging changes.

Polio is on the verge of being eradicated world-wide, but even when it has been officially declared as extinct as a disease, governments will need to continue to vaccinate to ensure against it recurring.

Using current technology, the production of vaccine requires the growth of enormous quantities of live virus, which is then chemically killed, thus presenting a dangerous security risk of virus escaping into the environment.

These new stabilised VLPs are suitable as replacements for the current killed poliovirus vaccines and can be produced in ways that do not require the growth of live virus.

The Leeds team and collaborators say this form of vaccine, using the newly developed stabilised VLPs, would be best used after the virus has been eradicated.

David Rowlands, Professor of Molecular Virology and co-leader of the study at the University, said: “Continuing to vaccinate after polio has been eradicated is essential to ensure against the disease recurring, but there are significant biosafety concerns about current production methods.

“Our new method of creating the vaccine has been proven to work in lab conditions and on top of that we’ve proved it’s actually more stable than existing vaccines.

“The improved stability of these modified VLPs means that they can be produced using bioengineering techniques without involving the growth of live virus”.

This study was a lab experiment, which shows stabilised VLPs to be effective in a controlled environment. Further research using animals (rats and mice) is planned, as part of the essential process of making sure the new VLPs are safe and effective for use in humans.

Professor Nicola Stonehouse, co-leader of the study, from the University of Leeds said: “The international drive to eradicate polio using existing vaccines continues, but methods need to be found to maintain vaccination safely as insurance after it appears to have been eradicated. This is when our approach will come into its own.

“Further research is needed to refine them more but we are confident they will work for all three forms of polio. After that we need to find a way to manufacture them cost effectively on a large scale.”

The research has been funded through a $1.5million World Health Organisation grant to a consortium led by Leeds and including the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich, the University of Oxford, University of Reading, and the Pirbright Institute.

Recent Posts

‘I apologise for the confusion’, Burna Boy retracts afrobeats comments

“I didn’t understand then why everyone wanted my music in a single box. I didn’t…

15 minutes ago

Kogi: 12 deaths recorded as 40,678 children affected by malaria in 2024

The Kogi State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, Okwulu Andrew, has disclosed that in the…

17 minutes ago

Benue govt to establish juice factory

The Benue State Government on Tuesday said its juice factory would begin operation from Independence…

24 minutes ago

As Awujale’s elder, I couldn’t bow or see him — Lenuwa explains absence at palace

The Lenuwa of Ode-Omi, Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan, has explained why his Official Staff was…

42 minutes ago

Nwifuru redeploys four Ebonyi commissioners in cabinet reshuffling

Ikeuwa said exco approved the participation of Ebonyi State in the E-HEART project of the…

52 minutes ago

INEC to begin fresh voter registration in Ondo

"The primary objective of the forthcoming CVR exercise is to provide opportunities for the following…

1 hour ago

Welcome

Install

This website uses cookies.