In an article published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Swiss researchers have announced the invention of a vaccine that
 |
| Black fever is a deadly disease in Africa (Photo: BBC) |
protects humans and animals against Leishmaniasis – black fever – a tropical disease that kills over 60,000 people annually.
This new vaccine synthesizes carbohydrates derived from the parasites or bacteria that cause black fever. The vaccine stimulates the immune system in patients and creates a defensive barrier against the disease.
Carbohydrates have been utilized in vaccines against meningitis and various other infectious diseases.
Professor Peter Seeberger, the head of the research team, stated: “The vaccine will train the body to respond against the attack of black fever. This vaccine can also be used for household pets like dogs and cats.” However, he noted that it will take another 2-3 years before the vaccine is tested on humans.
Black fever attacks the spleen, bones, bone marrow, and liver, destroying the immune system. Each year, over half a million people in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, and Brazil are infected with this disease.
KHANG LINH
