Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : December 23, 2014 2:11 PM IST
Washington, Dec 23: A report in the scientific journal The Lancet revealed that two experimental DNA vaccines under trial for prevention of Ebola were well tolerated in Ugandan adults. They generated a healthy immune response and is also safe for use. Both the vaccines evoked a response similar to that reported in US adults, earlier this year. The vaccines contain DNA that codes for proteins of the Zaire, Marburg and Sudan strains of Ebola virus. (Read: Ebola in West Africa: 3 factors of IMF policies that weakened Ebola response)
Phase I trial
Read: Ebola in West Africa: 3 factors of IMF policies that weakened Ebola response.
Results:
Conclusion:
Lead author Julie Ledgerwood from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health, US said that this is the first study that showed comparable safety and immune response of an experimental Ebola vaccine in an African population. This is especially encouraging because those at greatest risk of Ebola live primarily in Africa and diminished vaccine protection in African populations has been seen for other diseases, he added. (Read: 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection)
These findings have already formed the basis of a more potent vaccine, delivered using a harmless chimpanzee cold virus, which is undergoing trials in the US, UK, Mali and Uganda in response to the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak,' Ledgerwood said. (Read: How the Ebola virus spreads in humans)
Read more about Ebola virus --causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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