American and Japanese scientists have developed a genetic technique that enables pharmaceutical companies to rapidly formulate a vaccine against a dangerous strain of avian influenza virus.
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A scientist working on avian influenza vaccine development |
Experts indicate that it currently takes at least six months to develop and produce a vaccine against avian influenza. However, scientists from Tokyo and the University of Wisconsin, USA, believe that this timeframe can be significantly reduced by utilizing the “reverse genetics” technique.
Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a co-author of the study from the University of Wisconsin, stated that the “reverse genetics” technique will help to “strip away” the weapons of the avian influenza virus, creating a valuable source of “strains” to produce a large quantity of vaccines.
This new method builds upon Kawaoka’s research from 1999, which used monkey kidney cells as tiny factories to mass-produce viruses that had lost their genetic weapons.
In this instance, the genetically modified virus will be injected into chicken eggs or monkey kidney cells to create an appropriate vaccine, preparing the human immune system to recognize the dangerous virus.
KINH LUÂN (According to AFP & BBC NEWS)
