SINGLE DOSE, NEEDLE FREE EBOLA VACCINE
Scientists have
demonstrated for the first time that a single-dose, needleless Ebola vaccine
given to primates through their noses and lungs protected them against
infection for at least 21 weeks. A vaccine that doesn't require an injection
could help prevent passing along infections through unintentional pricks.
They
report the results of their study on macaques in the ACS journal Molecular
Pharmaceutics.
Maria
A. Croyle and colleagues note that in the current Ebola outbreak, which is
expected to involve thousands more infections and deaths before it's over, an
effective vaccine could help turn the tide. Even better, taking the needle out
of the inoculation process could also help prevent the accidental transmission
of Ebola, as well as other diseases, such as HIV, that might otherwise spread
from unintentional needle pricks and unsafe handling of medical wastes. Other
vaccines are currently under development to fight the virus, but they require
an injection. Croyle's team tested an adenovirus-based Ebola vaccine using a
respiratory delivery route.
The
researchers gave a novel formulation of an Ebola vaccine to several macaques
then exposed them to the virus more than four months later. All three of the
animals that received the vaccine through the nose and via a catheter into
their airways did not fall ill. However, since special equipment and training
are required for the current respiratory delivery method, the scientists
conclude that further work is needed if this formula, or an under-the-tongue
version, is to be used eventually in large-scale immunization campaigns.
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