Scientists Discover New Approach to Polio Vaccine Production

Scientists have identified new ways to provide vaccines against polio, which do not require the growth of live virus for their manufacture.

Despite the success of vaccines produced from ‘virus-like particles’ (VLPs) for hepatitis B and human papilloma viruses, poliovirus VLPs have proved to be too unstable to make practical vaccines.

Now, a research team at the University of Leeds has found a new way to modify these VLPs, also known as ‘empty capsids’ by identifying mutations which make their structures sufficiently stable to act as vaccines.

Polio is on the verge of being eradicated world-wide, but even when it has been officially declared extinct as a disease, governments will need to continue to vaccinate to ensure against its recurrence.

The Leeds team and collaborators say this form of vaccine, using the newly developed stabilised VLPs, would be best used after the virus has been eradicated.

A Professor of Molecular Virology and co-leader of the study at the University, David Rowlands, said that continuing to vaccinate after polio has been eradicated is essential to prevent the disease from recurring, but there are significant bio-safety concerns about current production methods.

“Our new method of creating the vaccine has been proven to work in lab conditions and on top of that we’ve proved it’s actually more stable than existing vaccines.

“The improved stability of these modified VLPs means that they can be produced using bio-engineering techniques without involving the growth of live virus”.

This study was a lab experiment, which shows stabilised VLPs to be effective in a controlled environment. Further research using animals (rats and mice) is planned, as part of the essential process of making sure the new VLPs are safe and effective for use in humans.

Prof. Nicola Stonehouse, co-leader of the study, from the University of Leeds also stated that the international drive to eradicate polio using existing vaccines continues, but methods need to be found to maintain vaccination safely as insurance after it appears to have been eradicated. This is when our approach will come into its own.

41 COMMENTS

  1. Can I just say what a relief to discover an individual who truly knows what
    they’re talking about over the internet. You definitely realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
    More people really need to check this out and understand this
    side of your story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular because you definitely have the
    gift.

  2. Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and
    starting a new project in a community in the same niche.

    Your blog provided us beneficial information to
    work on. You have done a wonderful job!

  3. Appreciating the time and effort you put into your site and in depth information you
    present. It’s good to come across a blog every
    once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed
    information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google
    account.

  4. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours these days, but I by no means discovered any fascinating article like yours.
    It’s lovely worth sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and
    bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the web will probably be much more helpful than ever before.

  5. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your internet site.

  6. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
    I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home
    a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog.
    An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.

  7. Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a
    team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same
    niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!

  8. It’s the best time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.

    I’ve read this submit and if I may just I want to counsel you some fascinating things or tips.
    Maybe you could write subsequent articles regarding this article.
    I want to read more things approximately it!

  9. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads
    up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something
    to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you
    know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Thanks

  10. Hey very cool blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb ..
    I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m satisfied to find a lot of helpful info right here within the
    put up, we need develop extra strategies in this regard,
    thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  11. I just couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info an individual supply to your visitors?
    Is going to be again often to check up on new posts

  12. What you said made a great deal of sense. However,
    think about this, what if you added a little information? I ain’t suggesting your content isn’t
    solid, however what if you added a title that grabbed a person’s attention? I mean Scientists Discover New Approach to Polio
    Vaccine Production – Healthfacts is a little plain. You should peek at Yahoo’s front page and
    watch how they create article headlines to get people to open the links.
    You might add a related video or a related picture or two to grab people interested about what you’ve written. In my opinion, it could bring your posts a little livelier.

  13. I am now not certain the place you are getting your information, but good topic.
    I must spend some time studying more or understanding more.
    Thank you for excellent info I was on the lookout for this
    information for my mission.

  14. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I
    stumbleupon on a daily basis. It’s always helpful to read through articles
    from other authors and use something from their websites.

  15. Hey very cool site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also?

    I’m glad to search out numerous helpful info right here in the put up, we want develop
    more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.

    . . . . .

  16. Hi I am so happy I found your webpage, I really found you by accident,
    while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Nonetheless I am here now
    and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable
    post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I
    don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked
    it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to
    read more, Please do keep up the great work.

  17. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to write more on this subject,
    it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t talk about these topics.
    To the next! Many thanks!!

  18. I have been exploring for a bit for any high
    quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of house .
    Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this
    site. Studying this information So i’m glad to convey that
    I have a very just right uncanny feeling I found out exactly what
    I needed. I most undoubtedly will make certain to do not
    omit this site and provides it a glance on a relentless basis.

  19. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my
    blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience
    with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything.

    I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  20. Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get
    there! Many thanks

  21. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You clearly know what youre talking about, why
    waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something informative to read?

  22. Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project
    in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!

  23. Hello! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with
    us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be
    tweeting this to my followers! Great blog
    and superb style and design.

  24. I’m not sure exactly why but this web site is loading very slow for
    me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my
    end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  25. Hey there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
    browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
    Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price?
    Kudos, I appreciate it!

LEAVE A REPLY