Scientists have edged closer to an effective Zika virus vaccine after demonstrating that three different formulations can protect monkeys from the disease.
The results suggest that the virus can be repelled by even low levels of immunity and have boosted confidence that a viable vaccine for humans is on the horizon.
Tests on 16 animals found that all three experimental vaccines offered complete protection against Zika infection one month later, though how long the protection could last for remains an urgent question for longer-term trials.
“We don’t want to overstate it, but we hope for protection that is long-lasting,” said Dan Barouch, who co-led the studies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “Ideally we’d have protection induced by a single shot
vaccine or a two shot vaccine and for that to last for years.”
When vaccinated, the animals churned out antibodies that were more than sufficient to overwhelm the virus.
Barouch said the findings increase optimism that a safe and effective human vaccine against Zika virus might be successful. “Our data encourage the development of these vaccines in clinical trials as quickly as possible,” he said. Details are reported in the journalScience.
Culled from theguardian.com
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