An experimental vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus has triggered immune reactions in large animals and triggered the production of antibodies that protect against infection, according to a new study by researchers at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi and published on Wednesday. In the magazine Science Translational Medicine.
The design of the drug suggests that it can address the complete lack of vaccines against Epstein-Barr virus infections and help prevent associated disorders ranging from cancer to multiple sclerosis.
The Epstein-Barr virus infects more than 95% of adults worldwide and can cause many health disorders and complications. In addition to being the leading cause of mononucleosis, the virus is associated with cancers such as lymphoma and stomach cancer and causes more than 200,000 cases of cancer worldwide each year.
Similarly, recent studies have also linked Epstein-Barr virus to multiple sclerosis, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that has no cure. Despite this widespread impact on public health, there is still no vaccine that can prevent Epstein-Barr virus infections, and a viable vaccine can save many lives.
Self-assembled nanoparticles
Now a team of researchers is introducing an experimental vaccine that contains self-assembled nanoparticles. After creating the vaccine, the researchers injected it into mice, ferrets and inhuman primates. The drug induced neutralizing antibodies in animals, while isolated antibodies prevented Epstein-Barr virus from penetrating B cells and epithelial cells.
In addition, antibody transfers from vaccinated mice suppressed virus levels in virus-exposed mice, and none of the mice developed virus-associated lymphoma.
Taken together, these data suggest a vaccine […] It is an effective and large-scale candidate that is likely to limit the presence of the virus in the blood after Epstein-Barr infection, thereby reducing infectious mononucleosis and possibly cancer-associated cancers. Points from the team In the press release.
Source: El Diario
