The Scientist - Human Ebola vaccine trial begins

In summary: However, the vaccine developed by VRC at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) employs both naked DNA and an adenoviral vector. The trial will include 27 subjects, 21 of whom will receive the vaccine and six of whom will receive a placebo. At monthly intervals, subjects will receive an escalating dose (2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg) of naked plasmid DNA—grown in bacteria—encoding Ebola nucleoprotein, the Zaire-subtype glycoprotein, and the Sudan-subtype glycoprotein, in phosphate-buffered saline, delivered via pressure injection into muscle, in a needle-less process. As of last Friday, only two subjects had received injections,
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Phase I safety test of the multimodal vaccine's DNA component will last 1 year | By Jeffrey M Perkel


The leader of the team that designed an Ebola vaccine and tested it in macaque monkeys expects to see no adverse effects in the human trial of the vaccine, which began last Tuesday (November 18). The phase I trial just initiated will test the vaccine's DNA component, manufactured by Vical Inc., a San Diego–based biotech company. The entire vaccine, developed by Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, employs both naked DNA and an adenoviral vector.

The trial will include 27 subjects, 21 of whom will receive the vaccine and six of whom will receive a placebo. At monthly intervals, subjects will receive an escalating dose (2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg) of naked plasmid DNA—grown in bacteria—encoding Ebola nucleoprotein, the Zaire-subtype glycoprotein, and the Sudan-subtype glycoprotein, in phosphate-buffered saline, delivered via pressure injection into muscle, in a needle-less process. As of last Friday, only two subjects had received injections, according to VRC Director Gary Nabel, who designed and tested the vaccine.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20031124/06 [Broken]
 
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Is Ebola really that much of a killer to warrant a vaccine? Or is it just the fact that it is seen as THE killer virus from the movies which liquifies your organs, rather than something as boring as HIV..
 
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Originally posted by Jikx
Is Ebola really that much of a killer to warrant a vaccine? Or is it just the fact that it is seen as THE killer virus from the movies which liquifies your organs, rather than something as boring as HIV..

Yes, Ebola is an hemorrhagic fever but liquification of the organs is rarely seems. Some strains of the virus have an 90% killing rate whereas some other strain have a less than 10% killing rate. Central african countries have sporadic outbreaks killing couple of people.
 

What is the Ebola vaccine trial and why is it important?

The Ebola vaccine trial is a scientific study that is testing the effectiveness and safety of a potential vaccine for the Ebola virus. It is important because Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly disease that has caused numerous outbreaks in Africa in recent years. A successful vaccine could help prevent future outbreaks and save lives.

How does the Ebola vaccine work?

The Ebola vaccine works by introducing a small amount of the Ebola virus protein into the body, which triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to fight against the virus. This helps the body to build immunity against the virus and prevent infection.

Who is participating in the Ebola vaccine trial?

The Ebola vaccine trial involves human participants who have volunteered to be part of the study. These participants are chosen based on certain criteria, such as being in good health and not having a history of Ebola infection.

What is the process for the Ebola vaccine trial?

The Ebola vaccine trial involves multiple stages, starting with pre-clinical testing in animals to ensure safety and effectiveness. This is followed by three phases of human clinical trials, where the vaccine is tested on a small group of volunteers, then a larger group, and finally a large-scale trial involving thousands of participants. After the trials, the vaccine will undergo regulatory review before being approved for widespread use.

When will the Ebola vaccine be available for public use?

It is difficult to predict when the Ebola vaccine will be available for public use. The current trial is still in its early stages and it will take time to collect and analyze data, as well as complete the regulatory review process. However, the hope is that the vaccine will be available within a few years if the trials are successful.

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