The QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute is heralding a breakthrough in the fight against a 'nasty' virus which can cause severe disabilities and sometimes death in unborn babies.
Queensland researchers have developed an experimental vaccine against a "nasty" virus that can cause severe disabilities and sometimes death in unborn babies.
Professor Khanna said the vaccine worked by mounting a two-pronged immune-system attack against the virus, deploying both antibodies and killer T cells. "A major reason for vaccines not working for CMV is that most of the previous vaccine formulations have tried to control the virus through … antibodies alone," he said."We've learned that antibodies alone are not sufficient. These viruses very cleverly hide inside the cell. And to kill that virus, which is inside the cell, you need killer T cells.Professor Khanna said the vaccine had produced a strong and sustained immune response in mouse trials.
Adolescents would be the initial target population if the vaccine was successful, but it could also benefit people across their life span. "If you don't have a pre-existing immunity to this virus and you get exposed during pregnancy … you have a one in three chance of transmitting that virus to the baby through the placenta," Professor Khanna said.
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