Hepatitis B Nano Vaccine Sans Needle Shows Promise for Third World

University of Michigan scientists say that a new hepatitis B has proved non-toxic, and able to produce strong immune responses in animal studies.

A new hepatitis B has proved non-toxic, and is able to produce strong immune responses in animal studies, according to University of Michigan scientists.

They believe that it may make it possible to immunize large numbers of children and adults in Asia, Africa, and South America efficiently and safely.

Hepatitis B-Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment-Vaccination-FAQs
Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus.

Experts at the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences have revealed that the vaccine is based on a super-fine emulsion of oil, water, and surfactants placed in the nose.

Reporting the study online in the journal PLoS ONE, they said that the nanoemulsion represents a new delivery method for an antigen already used in existing hepatitis B vaccines to activate the body's immune defences.

"Our results indicate that needle-free nasal immunization, using a combination of nanoemulsion and hepatitis B antigen, could be a safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine, and also provide an alternative booster method for existing vaccines," says Dr. James R. Baker, Jr., the study's senior author and director of the institute. He also is Ruth Dow Doan Professor and allergy division chief in the U-M Department of Internal Medicine.

Australian State to Impose Ban on 'Intimate' Piercing of Minors
Australia's most populous state will ban young teenagers from having intimate body piercings, with authorities saying on Thursday that the health risks from the fashion trend were too great.

The nanoemulsion is made up of soybean oil, alcohol, water, and detergents emulsified into droplets less than 400 nanometres in diameter.

According to the researchers, the new type of hepatitis B vaccine will not have rigid cold storage requirements, and could require fewer administrations than current vaccines, which require three shots given over a period of six months.

Cuba Registers New Antibody
Cubas Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) has registered the first recombinant monoclonal antibody to be used in the production of an anti-hepatitis B vaccine.

Animal studies on mice, rats, and guinea pigs showed that protective immunity with the new vaccine required only two immunizations in the subjects.

The vaccine avoids the risk of spreading needle-borne infections, say the researchers.

500,000 Chinese Die of Hepatitis B Annually
China has the world's largest population of hepatitis B patients, said an official of the Chinese Hepatitis Prevention Foundation (HPF) here.

It also avoids the temporary pain and redness that results after people get shots with the current vaccines, in which an irritating compound called alum is used to enhance their effects.

The researchers did not find any local inflammation at the nasal site of administration with the new vaccine.

Paul E. Makidon, a U-M research fellow, says this finding attains significance because one of the major concerns for nasal administration of vaccines is that they can find their way to the olfactory bulb in the brain and cause side effects.

"Our studies, however, indicate no inflammation and no evidence of the vaccine in the olfactory bulb," he says.

The nanoemulsion technology is patented by U-M, and licensed to Ann Arbor-based NanoBio Corporation.

Source-ANI
RAS/S