Scientists at Oxford University are in a race against time, working on a new Ebola vaccine that could be ready for clinical trials in just two to three months. This urgent effort comes as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated alarmingly, with 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths reported. The strain of Ebola they’re targeting, known as Bundibugyo, is particularly deadly, killing approximately one-third of those it infects and, crucially, there’s currently no proven vaccine for it.
Now, the situation is looking quite serious. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the risk level from “high” to “very high” in the affected areas of Congo, and while the broader region also faces a high risk, globally the threat remains low. This escalation follows the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, emphasizing that this outbreak is not yet a pandemic.
Interestingly, another experimental vaccine for Bundibugyo is being developed, but it may take six to nine months before it’s ready for testing. The vaccine being crafted by the Oxford team employs the same technology they used during the Covid pandemic. This adaptable technology, referred to as ChAdOx1, can be quickly modified to combat different infections. Previously, it was infused with genetic material from the Covid virus, but now it’s been re-engineered using genetic information from the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
This innovative vaccine uses a common cold virus that usually infects chimpanzees, but it’s been modified to ensure safety for humans. By utilizing this altered cold virus, researchers can deliver critical genetic material about the Bundibugyo virus to human cells, effectively training the immune system to recognize and combat the actual disease without causing any infection or Ebola symptoms.
However, there’s a catch. The WHO has pointed out that there isn’t any animal data yet to bolster the effectiveness of this specific vaccine. A spokesperson mentioned, “It is possible that doses of that could be available for clinical trial in two to three months, but there is a lot of uncertainty.” The effectiveness will hinge on the results of ongoing animal trials, which are reportedly underway in Oxford.
Once the vaccine is ready for mass production, the Serum Institute of India is set to step in and help produce it on a large scale, pending the delivery of medical-grade materials from Oxford. Professor Lambe, who heads the Vaccine Immunology department at the Oxford Vaccine Group, emphasized the need for speed, stating, “Once we get starting material to them they can go fast and they can go big.”
As for the current outbreak, it’s proving to be quite challenging due to the rarity of the Bundibugyo strain. Among the six species of the Ebola virus, only three are known to cause significant outbreaks. Bundibugyo has a limited history, with just two previous outbreaks documented—one in Uganda in 2007 and another in DR Congo in 2012. In fact, it hasn’t been seen for over a decade. While vaccines are available for the more common Zaire strain, the Bundibugyo strain remains without a proven vaccine.
It’s important to note that, unlike the mass vaccination efforts during the Covid pandemic, Ebola vaccines will be administered using a method called ring vaccination. This means only those individuals who are most at risk, including close contacts of Ebola cases and healthcare workers treating infected patients, will be immunized.
The Oxford team has been diligently working on similar vaccines for other strains of Ebola and even the Marburg virus. They might have caught this rare strain before the outbreak was officially recognized, according to reports from the Red Cross.
As the race continues to develop this critical vaccine, one can’t help but wonder how effective it will be and what the next steps will be if this outbreak escalates further. The world watches closely…
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber