Taiwan researchers unveil vaccine vs enterovirus 71

August 5, 2012 7:42am Researchers in Taiwan on Friday claimed to have taken the first step in developing a new vaccine that can fight the dreaded Enterovirus 71 that had killed scores of children in Cambodia.The researchers plan to work with biotechnology companies to conduct human clinical trials, according to a report on Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA)."The vaccine has effectively induced antibodies against EV 71 in the Formosan macaque, a primate close to humans," said Chiang Bor-luen, a professor at the National Taiwan University Hospital's Department of Pediatrics and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine.Chiang was quoted as saying the new vaccine may better protect humans from EV 71, a virulent strain of the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).In the Philippines, the Department of Health said at least two children had been infected with EV 71 but are recovering.Taiwan has been active in the research and development of an EV 71 vaccine since a huge outbreak of foot and mouth disease killed at least 78 people in 1998.But Chiang said the next step is still to work with experienced biotech companies to conduct more studies and clinical trials.Hu Yu-chen, a professor at National Tsing Hua University's Department of Chemical Engineering, added the new vaccine is safer and has fewer side effects than other vaccines.According to Hu, the new vaccine does not use inactivated viral cells, but instead uses virus-like particles (VLPs) to stimulate immune responses."Using genetic engineering, we produced proteins that can be assembled into VLPs, which resemble viruses but do not contain viral genetic material like DNA or RNA." he said.He added the technology is already being used to make the human papilloma virus vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer.According to Hu, the EV 71 vaccine could enter late stage clinical trials in about five years, with the help of biotech companies. — LBG, GMA News