A recently developed SARS vaccine will undergo animal testing as soon as high-security laboratories re-open for SARS research, National Science Council researchers said yesterday.
"We developed a Virus-like Particle [VLP] that has the protein structure of the SARS virus but is non-infectious, thus enhancing vaccine safety," said Chen Ding-shinn (
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMESN
The vaccine is one of the goals of a SARS research project established last May when the Legislative Yuan allocated NT$20 billion (US$602 million) for the National Science Council to use for SARS research.
Chen explained that while preliminary tests had shown the VLP capable of producing antibodies, experiments had yet to confirm whether the VLP could produce a "neutralizing antibody" capable of counteracting virus cells.
Vaccination research came to a standstill last December when health authorities shut down high-security P3 and P4 laboratories, those used for research on the most dangerous pathogens, in an effort to prevent lab-related cases of SARS after a Taiwanese medical researcher contracted the virus.
At the time, World Health Organization representatives, along with US and Japanese experts, were called upon to inspect the safety of the labs.
"We developed the VLP last December. At the time, we really had a competitive edge. Even now, we're still in the lead in terms of quantity cultivation of the VLP, but I trust that other nations have the ability to develop this VLP as well," Chen said.
"This is why we want to lift restrictions against SARS research in labs as soon as possible. We are willing to make any changes necessary to meet government safety standards," Chen said.
According to Chen, National Taiwan University's P4 lab could begin SARS laboratory research as soon as today.
According to Tao Mi-hua (陶秘華), an assistant researcher at the Academia Sinica Institute of Biological Research, a new P4 level laboratory focusing on animal testing will aid in the development of VLP vaccine in the future.
The nation's first animal-focused high-security lab will feature 12 isolation cabins and will be staffed by three veterinarians who recently received relevant training in the US, Tao said.
Tao said that while preliminary tests had been performed on rats, the test subjects for future vaccine experiments would be monkeys.
In addition, the National Science Council's SARS research projects include plans for cooperation with international research efforts.
Michael Lai (
National Science Council staff will be working with researchers from the British Health Protective Agency in applying for the European Commission's SARS research funds, while the Center for Disease Control will also be working with the agency in a study of public health policies.
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