
UTMB develops a universal vaccine platform that’s cheaper and shelf stable
UTMB develops a universal vaccine platform that’s cheaper and shelf stable
Researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have developed a less expensive way to produce vaccines that cuts the cost of vaccine production and storage by 80 percent without decreasing safety or effectiveness. The findings are currently available in EBioMedicine.
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases. Currently, many vaccines have to be manufactured in cell culture or eggs, which is expensive and carries the risk of contaminations. In addition, most vaccines must be kept refrigerated during the transportation from manufacturers to health care clinics. In tropical and subtropical regions, such cold storage requirements could contribute to more than 80 percent of the vaccine cost.
“The ability to eliminate cell culture or eggs and cold storage will change the process of vaccine development,” said UTMB’s Pei-Yong Shi, professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology. “Importantly, this vaccine technology could potentially serve as a universal platform for development of live-attenuated vaccines for many viral pathogens.”
To achieve these goals, the UTMB team engineered a live-attenuated Zika vaccine in the DNA form. Once the DNA is delivered into our body, it launches the vaccine in our cells, leading to antibody production and other protective immunity. With this production method, there is no need to manufacture the vaccine in cell culture or eggs at factories. Because DNA molecules are shelf stable, the vaccine will not expire at warm temperatures and could be stockpiled at room temperature for years.
Using UTMB’s Zika vaccine as a model, the research group showed that the DNA platform worked very efficiently in mice. After a single low dose, the DNA vaccine protected mice from Zika virus infection, mother-to-fetus transmission during pregnancy and male reproductive tract infection and damage.
“This is the first study to demonstrate that, after a single low dose, a DNA vaccine could induce saturated protective immunity,” Shi said. “We will continue testing this promising Zika vaccine platform and then apply the platform to other viruses.”
Learn more: UTMB develops a universal vaccine platform that’s cheaper and shelf stable
The Latest on: Vaccine production
via Google News
The Latest on: Vaccine production
- UPDATE 7-Biden says will have enough COVID-19 vaccine for every U.S. adult by Mayon March 3, 2021 at 3:08 pm
The United States will have enough COVID-19 vaccine for every American adult by the end of May, President Joe Biden said on Tuesday after Merck & Co agreed to make rival Johnson & Johnson's ...
- Chips, vaccines, and 'techno autocracies' - Why Big Tech and Biden are going to be friendson March 3, 2021 at 3:05 pm
In this week's edition of the Insider Tech newsletter we look at how the shortage of vaccines and semiconductors hint at the future of tech policy.
- Newton union president glad teachers eligible for COVID vaccine, but critical of rollouton March 3, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Michael Zilles, head of Newton's Teachers Association, worries that the rollout of the vaccination program for educators could cause chaos.
- Biden stands by May timeline for vaccines for all US adultson March 3, 2021 at 2:38 pm
President Joe Biden says the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccine for all adults by the end of May — two months earlier than anticipated.
- Biden vows enough vaccine for all US adults by end of Mayon March 3, 2021 at 2:35 pm
President Joe Biden says the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccine for all adults by the end of May — two months earlier than anticipated ...
- Joe Biden vows vaccines for all adults by end of May; Texas, Mississippi defy health officials, end mask mandates: Live COVID-19 updateson March 3, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Defying warnings from federal health officials about the need to stay vigilant against the coronavirus, the Republican governors of Texas and Mississippi said Tuesday they're lifting COVID-19 ...
- AstraZeneca's Dobber on ramping up Covid vaccine productionon March 3, 2021 at 10:40 am
CNBC's Meg Tirrell talks with AstraZeneca's president of North America Ruud Dobber about how the company is ramping up its global vaccine rollout through Covax and U.S. phase-three vaccine study data.
- As J&J Vaccine Production Stumbles, Merck Offers Helpon March 3, 2021 at 9:12 am
Merck said it would help rival drugmaker Johnson & Johnson get its COVID-19 vaccine out the door. The COVID-19 outbreak is still pushing manufacturers to cooperate. Merck & Co. announced March 2 that ...
- EU Targets Vaccine Production Capacity of 2-3 Billion Doses/year by End-2021 Paperon March 2, 2021 at 10:49 pm
The European Union aims to increase the region's COVID-19 vaccine production capacity to 2-3 billion doses per year by the end of 2021, Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton was quoted as saying on ...
via Bing News