New type of vaccines delivers strong and fast immune response

- could protect against previously untreatable, deadly viruses and cancers

24 November 2008

A new vaccine principle is being developed by scientists which – if it works to its full expected potential – could help to save millions of lives and revolutionise current vaccine technology.

The ‘InVacc’ platform, as it is known, represents an advance on the original DNA vaccines and generates new vaccines with greatly enhanced properties. The platform consists of a chain of amino acids attached to a gene of the virus being vaccinated against. This genetic cocktail is then inserted into an incapacitated flu-like virus such as the adenovirus and injected into the body, where it triggers a broader and more aggressive immune response, enabling the immune system to quickly seek out and destroy the disease when it invades.

“We are excited to be working on the vaccine technology”, says Associate Professor Jan Pravsgaard, the lead scientist behind the project. “The platform has proved very effective in our recent tests and could have enormous potential. In principle, vaccines of this type could be used to inoculate against a range of deadly viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing agents and even be used to cure certain cancers once they take hold.”

Tests of the vaccine platform on mice so far look extremely promising with the scientists able to provide 100% protection against different, lethal strains of flu given to the test animals. The scientists also believe that the new technology will be effective despite the ability of different viruses and bacteria to constantly mutate and develop resistance.

For more information on how the platform works, see: http://healthsciences.ku.dk/newslist/invacc/