Coronavirus Prevention : Italy scientists claim to have developed world’s first COVID-19 vaccine
- 4 years ago
Italian researchers on 6th of May 2020, claimed that they have successfully developed a vaccine that can help contain the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. According to a report, the new vaccine is likely to work on the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has spread rapidly across the globe.
Tests conducted on mice showed that the vaccine has antibodies that work on human cells, blocking the virus from infecting people. The team of researchers further observed that the five vaccine candidates generated a large number of antibodies, and selected two with the best results.
The breakthrough development made by the researchers at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome could be among the most visible progress amongst hundreds of experimental vaccines being tested across the world in the hunt for a cure for the dreaded respiratory illness. Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, the firm developing the medication, said that a coronavirus candidate vaccine has neutralised the virus in human cells for the first time, the Arab News reported.
"This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy. Human tests are expected after this summer," Aurisicchio was quoted as saying to Italian news agency ANSA.
As per tests conducted at Rome's infectious-disease Spallanzani Hospital, the vaccine has antibodies generated in mice
that work on human cells.
"As far as we know we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine.
We expect this to happen in humans too," Aurisicchio added.
According to the report, all vaccine candidates currently being created are based on the genetic material of DNA protein
spike. These vaccine candidates are injected with the so-called "electroporation" technique, which consists of an
intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse, helping the vaccine break into the cells and activating the
immune system. This makes their vaccine particularly eective for generating functional antibodies against the
'spike' protein, in particular in the lung cells, which are the most vulnerable to coronavirus, said the researchers.
The team said they are expected to test its vaccine on humans after summer.
Tests conducted on mice showed that the vaccine has antibodies that work on human cells, blocking the virus from infecting people. The team of researchers further observed that the five vaccine candidates generated a large number of antibodies, and selected two with the best results.
The breakthrough development made by the researchers at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome could be among the most visible progress amongst hundreds of experimental vaccines being tested across the world in the hunt for a cure for the dreaded respiratory illness. Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, the firm developing the medication, said that a coronavirus candidate vaccine has neutralised the virus in human cells for the first time, the Arab News reported.
"This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy. Human tests are expected after this summer," Aurisicchio was quoted as saying to Italian news agency ANSA.
As per tests conducted at Rome's infectious-disease Spallanzani Hospital, the vaccine has antibodies generated in mice
that work on human cells.
"As far as we know we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine.
We expect this to happen in humans too," Aurisicchio added.
According to the report, all vaccine candidates currently being created are based on the genetic material of DNA protein
spike. These vaccine candidates are injected with the so-called "electroporation" technique, which consists of an
intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse, helping the vaccine break into the cells and activating the
immune system. This makes their vaccine particularly eective for generating functional antibodies against the
'spike' protein, in particular in the lung cells, which are the most vulnerable to coronavirus, said the researchers.
The team said they are expected to test its vaccine on humans after summer.