A team of scientists from different universities and research centers in China has announced the development of a experimental vaccine contra different variants of the ebola virusincluding that of Bundibugyothe strain that has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the main responsible for the outbreak detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and that has forced the declaration of the state of international public health emergency.
In an article published this Monday in the scientific journal ‘PNAS’, the researchers report the creation of a mRNA injection broad spectrum that, unlike the other compounds developed to date, could be useful against the most aggressive variants of the virus and provide “universal coverage” against this pathogen. The drug for now It has only been tested in mouse models but, according to its creators, the results seem to be positive.
The drug has been tested in cellular models and in mice and, according to experts, it has shown positive results in both.
The work, led by the Department of Infectious Diseases of the University of Science and Technology of China through the well-known “strategic priority research program” of the Government, describes the development of a new generation mRNA vaccine designed to offer protection against several species of the Ebola virusincluding classical virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus.
Scientists explain that unlike previous vaccines, which mainly focus on a single strain, this strategy combines genetic material from different viral proteins inside a single formulation. Specifically, it incorporates the surface glycoproteins of several strains (responsible for the entry of the virus into cells) together with a more conserved internal protein, involved in the structure of the virus and in the activation of the cellular immune response.
The formula has been designed to stimulate different branches of the immune response and offer longer-lasting protection against different variants of the virus.
The creators of this experimental formula claim that this combination of signals could estimulate different branches of the immune response. On the one hand, the drug could encourage the production of antibodies directed against the proteins located on the surface of the virus and responsible for allowing or blocking its entry into cells. On the other hand, the compound could produce an activation of T lymphocytesthe guardians of the immune system responsible for recognizing and eliminating already infected cells.
According to the specialists in the article published this Monday, by inducing both types of response in a balanced way, the vaccine would not depend solely on one mechanism but rather would combine neutralization and destruction of infected cellswhich would translate into broader and potentially more effective protection against different variants of Ebola.
Tests on laboratory animals
This new experimental vaccine, which began to be developed in 2021 after the outbreaks in Uganda, only has been tested under laboratory conditions. The researchers first tested its performance in cells and then moved on to animal models. The drug was tested on mice and hamsters that, according to the article, first received dosage of this drug and were subsequently exposed to different strains of the virus to evaluate their protection against them. The scientists affirm that in the tests carried out it was seen that “the vaccine showed very robust protection against different orthoebolaviruses.” Vaccinated animals developed a balanced immune response, a significant reduction in viral load and organ protection after exposure to the virus.
The compound began to be developed in 2021 after the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and is still in the study phase in laboratories
In infection trials, the majority of mice vaccinated with this compound survived without significant weight loss or serious signs of illnesswhile the unvaccinated groups succumbed to the infection. Unlike the other vaccines developed to date, researchers affirm that the protection provided by this drug It has not only been shown to be effective against the classic Ebola virus but also against other species such asThe Sudan virus and the Bundibugyo virus. The analyzes also show that the immunity generated by this vaccine is maintained over timesuggesting a potential for long-lasting protection. The scientists state that these results “suggest strong potential for clinical application” but, for the moment, no further phases of the study have been reported.
Subscribe to continue reading
