Breaking taboos for Science

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

Will China’s scientists’ breakthrough sound death knell for world’s deadly viruses?

Peking University research could help simplify development of effective vaccines or cures for infections such as bird flu, Sars, Ebola and HIV within weeks of an outbreak

 

 

Chinese scientists may have found the key to creating effective vaccines for the world’s deadly viruses – by breaking two taboos in traditional vaccinology.

An experiment by a research team at Beijing’s Peking University was hailed as “revolutionary” in the field in a paper published in the latest issue of Science magazine on Friday.

The scientists broke two of the field’s taboos first by creating a vaccine using a live, fully infectious virus, and then by injecting the substance into infected animals dying of the same virus.

The animals were cured after receiving the injection, according to the paper.

This breakthrough promises to simplify the process of producing vaccines, which may help scientists develop effective vaccines or even cures for various viruses – such bird flu, Sars, Ebola and HIV – within weeks of an outbreak.

The live virus used in the vaccine used by the researchers had its genetic code tweaked to disable the viral strains’ self-replication mechanism. But it was kept fully infectious to allow the host animal cells to generate immunity.

Using live viruses in their fully infectious form was considered taboo, as viruses spread rapidly. Vaccines sold and used widely today generally contain either dead or weakened forms of viruses.

 

with a caveat . . .

 

“The chances are the exchange of genetic information will make [the virus] even deadlier, even more productive,” Meng said.

“I doubt health authorities in any country, especially China, will vaccinate the public with a live virus.”