Bioengineered Antibodies Could Stem Flu Pandemic
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Contributed by Tom Harrison| 14 October, 2006 01:36 GMT
A new study suggests that 'humanized' bird flu antibodies could both prevent and effectively treat the disease, offering hope of a way to curb the intensity of a future flu pandemic.
Scientists have succeeded in bioengineering two new types of antibodies that could provide healthy people with immunity against the H5N1 bird flu virus, as well as provide an effective treatment for those already infected with the disease.
The study, carried out by a research team from the DSO National Laboratory in Singapore and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., is described in the journal
Respiratory Research.
Injecting the first type of "humanized monoclonal" antibodies in mice prior to exposing them to H5N1 gave them complete protection against infection. Given in higher dosages, those antibodies also were effective in treating the disease after infection took place.
The second type also was effective prior to exposure when given in a high dose. However, it was not a useful post-infection treatment.
The results constitute proof of principle that passive antibody therapy could help contain a future flu pandemic, the researchers maintained. |
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