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07/08/2003
Breakthrough vaccine could protect against Ebola virus
In a breakthrough discovery, it has been revealed that scientists in the US have developed a single shot vaccine that could protect people from the deadly Ebola virus.
If the vaccine – which has been used successfully on monkeys – proves similarly effective in humans, it may one day allow scientists to quickly contain Ebola outbreaks with ring vaccination. This was the same strategy used in the past to eradicate smallpox.
The findings – published in this week’s issue of Nature – is the result of collaboration between scientists at the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and scientists at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).
“This research has enormous public health implications not only because it might be used to limit the spread of Ebola virus, which continues to emerge in central Africa, but also because this vaccine strategy may be applied to other highly lethal viruses, such as the Marburg and Lassa fever viruses and the Sars coronavirus, that cause acute disease outbreaks and require a rapid response,” said NIAID Director Anthony Fauci.
The VRC scientists immunized eight monkeys with a single boost injection, consisting of attenuated carrier viruses containing genes for important Ebola antigens. The monkeys were then delivered to USAMRIID where they were injected with an Ebola virus strain obtained from a fatally infected person from the former Zaire in 1995. The single vaccine injection completely protected all eight animals against Ebola infection, even those who received high doses of the virus.
Scientists at the VRC had been pursuing the so-called “prime-boost” vaccine strategy against a variety of infectious diseases. Prime-boost is a two-part process: first, an injection of non-infectious genetic material from the disease-causing microbe primes the immune system to respond; second, several weeks later, an injection of attenuated carrier viruses containing key genes from the microbe substantially boosts the immune response.
(GMcG)
If the vaccine – which has been used successfully on monkeys – proves similarly effective in humans, it may one day allow scientists to quickly contain Ebola outbreaks with ring vaccination. This was the same strategy used in the past to eradicate smallpox.
The findings – published in this week’s issue of Nature – is the result of collaboration between scientists at the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and scientists at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).
“This research has enormous public health implications not only because it might be used to limit the spread of Ebola virus, which continues to emerge in central Africa, but also because this vaccine strategy may be applied to other highly lethal viruses, such as the Marburg and Lassa fever viruses and the Sars coronavirus, that cause acute disease outbreaks and require a rapid response,” said NIAID Director Anthony Fauci.
The VRC scientists immunized eight monkeys with a single boost injection, consisting of attenuated carrier viruses containing genes for important Ebola antigens. The monkeys were then delivered to USAMRIID where they were injected with an Ebola virus strain obtained from a fatally infected person from the former Zaire in 1995. The single vaccine injection completely protected all eight animals against Ebola infection, even those who received high doses of the virus.
Scientists at the VRC had been pursuing the so-called “prime-boost” vaccine strategy against a variety of infectious diseases. Prime-boost is a two-part process: first, an injection of non-infectious genetic material from the disease-causing microbe primes the immune system to respond; second, several weeks later, an injection of attenuated carrier viruses containing key genes from the microbe substantially boosts the immune response.
(GMcG)
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A nurse from Scotland who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone last year has been readmitted to a hospital in London following an "unusual late complication" of her illness. Pauline Cafferkey, 39, who is from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday 6 October after feeling unwell.
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A nurse from Scotland who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone last year has been readmitted to a hospital in London following an "unusual late complication" of her illness. Pauline Cafferkey, 39, who is from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday 6 October after feeling unwell.
31 May 2004
Contingency plan for deadly mosquito-borne virus published
A contingency plan to protect the UK against the mosquito-borne disease West Nile Virus has been published by the Chief Medical Officer today. Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain.
Contingency plan for deadly mosquito-borne virus published
A contingency plan to protect the UK against the mosquito-borne disease West Nile Virus has been published by the Chief Medical Officer today. Although the risk of acquiring West Nile Virus infection in the UK has been assessed as low, climate change and long-haul travel could contrive to see the disease spread to Britain.
27 February 2012
Schmallenberg Virus Spreads
The first cases of Schmallenberg virus have been confirmed on the Isle of Wight, in West Berkshire and in Gloucestershire. The disease which causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock. The latest data from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency puts the total number of UK holdings affected at 74.
Schmallenberg Virus Spreads
The first cases of Schmallenberg virus have been confirmed on the Isle of Wight, in West Berkshire and in Gloucestershire. The disease which causes birth defects and miscarriages in livestock. The latest data from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency puts the total number of UK holdings affected at 74.
06 October 2006
Call to vaccinate schoolgirls over sex virus
All schoolgirls should be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, a medical journal has said. The Lancet has called for compulsory vaccinations against human papillomavirus for girls aged 11 or 12 in the UK, like the US state of Michigan.
Call to vaccinate schoolgirls over sex virus
All schoolgirls should be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, a medical journal has said. The Lancet has called for compulsory vaccinations against human papillomavirus for girls aged 11 or 12 in the UK, like the US state of Michigan.
22 February 2006
Government bird flu plans criticised
The government has been criticised for failing to stockpile supplies of a bird flu vaccine in preparation for a possible outbreak in Britain. Patrick Holden, director of Soil Association, accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" for not stockpiling the vaccine.
Government bird flu plans criticised
The government has been criticised for failing to stockpile supplies of a bird flu vaccine in preparation for a possible outbreak in Britain. Patrick Holden, director of Soil Association, accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" for not stockpiling the vaccine.
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