National Institute Of Immunology Is Developing Anti- Diarrhea Vaccine

The National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi is in a process of developing a vaccine to safeguard children from diarrhea caused from rotavirus.

Some international pharmaceutical companies like GSK have developed vaccine against rotavirus but their efficiency under Indian conditions is not known.

Water Borne Diseases
Waterborne diseases are communicable diseases caused by diseases causing microorganisms in contaminated water. It is more prevalent during floods and in tsunami affected areas.

"We have been working on developing another vaccine which is based on an Indian strain of virus which is rotavirus 116 E. This strain of virus was isolated from All Indian Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) from children who were born in the hospital," said Dr. Sudhanshu Vrati, senior scientist, NII.

The medical authorities are now gearing up for phase III clinical trial of this vaccine that will confirm its efficiency.

"The vaccine was tested on 90 children. We tested two doses of vaccine. At the lower dose of the vaccine about 60 percent of the children zero converted whereas in the higher dose of vaccine close to 90 percent of children zero converted. Whether this zero conversion will result to reduced diarrhea that is yet to be seen," said Dr. Sudhanshu Vrati, senior scientist, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.

About Salmonellosis
Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.

"Now we are gearing up for phase III clinical trial of this vaccine which will tell the efficacy of the vaccine," he added.

Rotaviral infections are the leading cause of diarrhea- associated mortality in developing countries.

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It is estimated that globally rotavirus accounts for 352000-592000 (median 444000) deaths annually and nearly one fourth of these occur in India.

Rotaviral diarrhea contributes 40 percent of the total dehydrating diarrhea disease in younger children causing 150000 deaths per year.

Waterborne Disease
Interactive section of Medindia gives details regarding waterborne disease

The world health organization and the global initiative for vaccine and immunization- an alliance of interested partners in the private and public sector have made the accelerated development and introduction of rotavirus vaccine a priority.

The department of Biotechnology is supporting a rotaviral diarrhea vaccine development project since 1990-1991 under Indo-US vaccine action programme.

Source-ANI
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