Scientists in the US have developed a novel vaccination method that uses tiny gold particles to mimic a virus and carry specific proteins to the body’s specialist immune cells.
The technique differs from the traditional approach of using dead or inactive viruses as a vaccine and was demonstrated in the lab using a specific protein that sits on the surface of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The results have been published today, 26 June 2013, in IOP Publishing’s journal Nanotechnology by a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University.
RSV is the leading viral cause of lower respiration tract infections, causing several hundred thousand deaths and an estimated 65 million infections a year, mainly in children and the elderly.
The detrimental effects of RSV come, in part, from a specific protein, called the F protein, which coats the surface of the virus. The protein enables the virus to enter into the cytoplasm of cells and also causes cells to stick together, making the virus harder to eliminate.
The body’s natural defence to RSV is therefore directed at the F protein; however, up until now, researchers have had difficulty creating a vaccine that delivers the F protein to the specialised immune cells in the body. If successful, the F protein could trigger an immune response which the body could ‘remember’ if a subject became infected with the real virus.
In this study the researchers created exceptionally small gold nanorods, just 21 nanometres wide and 57 nanometres long, which were almost exactly the same shape and size as the virus itself. The gold nanorods were successfully coated with the RSV F proteins and were bonded strongly thanks to the unique physical and chemical properties of the nanorods themselves.
The researchers then tested the ability of the gold nanorods to deliver the F protein to specific immune cells, known as dendritic cells, which were taken from adult blood samples.
Dendritic cells function as processing cells in the immune system, taking the important information from a virus, such as the F protein, and presenting it to cells that can perform an action against them?the T cells are just one example of a cell that can take action.
Once the F protein-coated nanorods were added to a sample of dendritic cells, the researchers analysed the proliferation of T cells as a proxy for an immune response. They found that the protein-coated nanorods caused the T cells to proliferate significantly more compared to non-coated nanorods and just the F protein alone.
Not only did this prove that the coated-nanorods were capable of mimicking the virus and stimulating an immune response, it also showed that they were not toxic to human cells, offering significant safety advantages and increasing their potential as a real-life human vaccine.
The Latest Bing News on:
Nanotech vaccine
- Scientists learn from caterpillars how to create self-assembling capsules for drug deliveryon April 26, 2024 at 8:00 am
Self-assembling molecules that spontaneously organize themselves to form complex structures are common in nature. For example, the tough outer layer of insects, called the cuticle, is rich in proteins ...
- ISC Class 12 Biotechnology Syllabus 2024-25: Download Class 12th Biotechnology Syllabus PDFon April 26, 2024 at 2:43 am
April/2642024/image-(79).jpg" width="1200" height="675" /> ISC Class 12 Biotechnology Syllabus 2025: The CISCE Board Class 12 Syllabus 2024-25 has been published on the board’s official website. All ...
- GSK Sues Pfizer, BioNTech for Share of Billions in Vaccine Saleson April 25, 2024 at 9:16 am
GlaxoSmithKline filed a federal lawsuit seeking to recoup a share of the tens of billions of dollars in revenue Pfizer and BioNTech have reported from sales of their Covid-19 vaccines, which GSK ...
- What are biotech companies doing to tackle malaria?on April 25, 2024 at 7:40 am
As we observe World Malaria Day on April 25, let’s take a look at some of the latest progress and new treatments against malaria.
- Engineers muffle invading pathogens with a 'molecular mask'on April 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
Vaccines remain the gold standard of protection against dangerous pathogens, but take considerable time and vast resources to develop. Rapidly mutating viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can blunt their ...
- Nature Publication Highlights the Benefits of Tropis® Intradermal When Used to Administer a First-in-Class Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccineon April 24, 2024 at 7:10 am
Nature study shows delivery of a novel self-amplifying mRNA-based vaccine with Tropis directly into the dermis significantly boosts immune responses.
- Healthcare Regulations Driving Cleanroom Flooring Market Growth: Expected to Reach US$ 4.3 Billion by 2033on April 24, 2024 at 3:18 am
A recently published study by FMI expects the global cleanroom flooring market to augment at a 6.5% CAGR from 2023 to 2033. By the end of the said assessment period, a valuation of US$ 4300 Million is ...
- Nanotechnology Market to Surpass USD 53.51 Billion by 2031 | SkyQuest Technologyon April 23, 2024 at 8:30 am
SkyQuest projects that the nanotechnology market will attain a value of USD 53.51 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 36.4% over the forecast period (2024-2031). The increasing demand for nanotechnology ...
- Pfizer vs Moderna battle over COVID vaccine patents begins in UKon April 23, 2024 at 4:27 am
Pfizer and BioNTech asked a London court to revoke rival Moderna's patents over technology key to the development of vaccines for COVID-19, as the latest leg of a global legal battle began on Tuesday.
- Engineering Powerful Vaccines with Lipid Nanotechnologyon April 21, 2024 at 6:15 am
In this, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has emerged as highly promising. Progress in medical science has facilitated the seamless integration of lipid nanotechnology into standard therapy, ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Nanotech vaccine
[google_news title=”” keyword=”nanotech vaccine” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Gold nanorods
- Feed has no items.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Gold nanorods
[google_news title=”” keyword=”gold nanorods” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]