Queensland researchers have developed an experimental vaccine against a “nasty” virus that can cause severe disabilities and sometimes death in unborn babies.
Key points:
- Scientists expect to conduct human trials of the experimental vaccine in 2024
- Adolescents would be the initial target population if the vaccine was successful
- CMV can be very harmful to your baby if your mother contracts it
The vaccine, which the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute announces as a breakthrough, is designed to protect against cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause babies to develop hearing loss, cerebral palsy, developmental delays and other serious disabilities they are in the womb.
Scientist Rajiv Khanna has been working on the vaccine for 15 years.
It expects to conduct human trials in 2024 and is in discussions with potential industry partners to advance the vaccine.
Professor Khanna said the vaccine worked by mounting an attack on the immune system against the virus, deploying antibodies and killer T cells.
“One of the main reasons that vaccines do not work for CMV is that most of the previous vaccine formulations have tried to control the virus only with … antibodies,” he said.
Rajiv Khanna (left) says the vaccine has produced a strong immune response during testing with mice. (Supplied by: QIMR Berghofer)
“We’ve learned that antibodies alone are not enough. These viruses are cleverly hidden inside the cell. And to kill this virus, which is inside the cell, you need killer T cells. .
“We have now brought the two armies of the immune system into a single formulation.”
Professor Khanna said the vaccine had produced a strong and sustained immune response in mouse trials.
“The longevity of the immune response is very critical,” he said.
The most dangerous virus for unborn babies
Adolescents would be the initial target population if the vaccine was successful, but it could also benefit people throughout their lives.
“If you do not have pre-existing immunity to this virus and you are exposed during pregnancy … you have a one in three chance of transmitting this virus to the baby through the placenta,” said Professor Khanna.
“But if you’re really immune, then that chance is reduced to one in 100, even lower.”
The virus can also cause serious problems in patients with organ transplants and has been implicated in some brain tumors.
CMV is a herpes virus carried by 50% of the estimated population. Most people will never develop symptoms and a small proportion will experience a glandular fever-like illness.
But if women get the virus during pregnancy, it can be potentially dangerous for their unborn child.
“It’s a pretty nasty disease once it reaches babies to be born,” Professor Khanna said.
Brisbane’s mother, Miff Ward, hadn’t heard of CMV until she learned she was infected while she was pregnant with her daughter Azaria, who was born with permanent hearing loss.
Brisbane’s mother, Miff Ward, says she is excited about a possible vaccine.
“It was a very difficult and emotional time for us,” Ms. Ward said.
“It is amazing that there is so little awareness of such a common virus that it can cause so much harm to a newborn baby.
“I’m very excited to learn that a vaccine could arrive … We were lucky that the effects of CMV weren’t more severe considering what could happen.”
CMV is most often transmitted through saliva and other body fluids.
Pregnant women are asked to practice strict hygiene, especially when changing diapers, wiping a child’s nose, or coming in contact with urine.
They should not share a toothbrush with a child and avoid contact with saliva when kissing children.
Professor Khanna said that even if the CMV vaccine were successful, it would realistically take years of human testing before it became available to the public.
He said Queensland had the capacity to make the vaccine.
Posted 3 h 3 hours agoDmec. June 22, 2022 at 7:32 pm, updated 1 hour ago 1 hour agoWednesday, June 22, 2022 at 9:30 pm