Academia Sinica’s Institute of Biomedical Sciences on Tuesday said that its scientists have developed a nanotechnology-based vaccine that inoculated lab mice against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
The MERS-related coronavirus kills 40 percent of the people it infects and developing a vaccine against it is deemed a high priority by the WHO, the institute said.
The virus was discovered in 2015, when it leaped species from camels to people, it said.
Using concepts similar to the development of an Ebola vaccine, the research team designed a nanoparticle to imitate the shape of the coronavirus as a substitute for deactivated viruses that vaccines typically use, institute associate research fellow Jack Hu (胡哲銘) said.
Nanotechnology was used in lieu of conventional vaccine manufacturing methodologies, because MERS is too lethal for most labs to handle and working on the actual virus would have had a disturbing resemblance to research for biological warfare, Hu said.
The team found that T cells in mice were stimulated by the nanoparticles, while those that received the inoculation had a 100 percent survival rate, he said.
The team is to continue its collaboration with international partners to go forward with primate trials, with clinical trials and approval for market release estimated to take three and seven years respectively, the researchers said.
The technology could also be used to research vaccines for flu and Zika viruses, as well as cancer, they said.
The Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union yesterday vowed to protest at the EVA Air Marathon on Sunday next week should EVA Airway Corp’s management continue to ignore the union’s petition to change rules on employees’ leave of absence system, after a flight attendant reportedly died after working on a long-haul flight while ill. The case has generated public discussion over whether taking personal or sick leave should affect a worker’s performance review. Several union members yesterday protested at the Legislative Yuan, holding white flowers and placards, while shouting: “Life is priceless; requesting leave is not a crime.” “The union is scheduled to meet with
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