The first ever needle-free Ebola vaccine, that is absolutely inhalable, has been proven effective on non human primates against the life threatening virus.
Scientists say that it can soon be remodelized for human clinical trials also.
Research teams from the university of Texas Medical Branch and the US National Institute of Health published a report on Clinical Investigation journal that a rather simplified version of a virus called parainfluenza virus type 3, was modified to accept Ebola virus glycoprotein. This gave the ability to stimulate an immune response against Ebola.
Aerosolized cure such as this has never been tested for any kind of viral hemorrhagic fever vaccine before. The idea came up as a study revealed that contact of Ebola virus to the mucus membrane lining respiratory tract is responsible for the infection, so, immunization of airway lining to this virus can be a promised way to prevention.
Some Rhesus macaques were vaccinated by using nebuliser mask over faces, into noses and mouth in the form of gas or liquid. Then they were injected with Ebola virus in a dose that is supposed to be lethal in no vaccinated individual. But they survived this time without even showing any ill side effect.
Alex Bukreyev, professor of virology at the University of Texas Medical branch informed that the virus is known as HPIV3 or EboGP.
Other Ebola vaccines being tested need to be delivered by injection. Comparisons between injectable and inhalable vaccines showed different effects on T cell in the lungs, spleen and blood.
Bukreyev said that a single dose aerosol vaccine will be enough to enable both prevention and containment of Ebola infections in a natural outbreak setting where there is lacking of enough healthcare privileges. It can also be useful in situation of much crisis or remote areas where trained medical personnel are tough to find.
Ebola burst into the deadliest outbreak in history in 2013, as it spread very quickly over West Africa and ended up claiming many lives. It is rather unfortunate that there’s no vaccine for the Ebola virus in the market at present.
Researchers say, this experiment should be advanced into an NIH phase I clinic study. This new aerosolized form of vaccination need approval through an Investigative New Drug Application, to help adults get rid of Ebola hazard.
