DNA Vaccine for Bird Flu
Bird flu is apparently spreading globally and one plan of attack is the development of a vaccine. Unfortunately, conventional vaccines can take up to six months to produce. Peter Dunnill, DSc. and colleagues at University College London propose the use of DNA vaccines against bird flu.
As yet untested in humans, DNA vaccines can be produced in just two to three weeks.
To do it, scientists would create a “loop” of DNA that contains the construction plans for a protein on the outer surface of the H5N1 virus. When that DNA is injected into cells, it would quickly reproduce the protein and trigger immunization in much the same way as a conventional vaccine.
Aside from vaccines, countries are stockpiling Tamiflu with Roche releasing licensing rights to generic drug companies. Australia is even proposing to quarantine travellers in airport hangars should anyone show signs of bird flu. You can keep a skeptical eye on bird flu developments at Effect Measure.
Science Daily, October 20, 2005
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POSTED IN: Genetic Ingenuity
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4 opinions for DNA Vaccine for Bird Flu
Qadira
Oct 22, 2005 at 11:21 pm
I haven’t kept up on bird flu (don’t want to induce hysteria and paranoia lol). Has there been any documented cases of human-to-human transmission yet, or is it still bird-to-human?
Lei
Oct 23, 2005 at 2:14 am
Q, No documented cases of human-to-human transmission but there are some suspected clusters. Number of humans infected remains at less than 70.
Qadira
Oct 23, 2005 at 9:28 am
Here’s Hoping it doesn’t mutate to an epidemic version then!
Lei
Oct 23, 2005 at 9:45 pm
Q, We can only hope that mutations will make it less virulent than more. But I don’t think many experts are so optimistic.
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