'Green' vaccine for vomiting bug

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8206743.stm

'Green' vaccine for vomiting bug

Outbreaks have happen onboard cruise ships

Scientists say they are ready to begin human testing of a plant-based

vaccine for the winter vomiting virus.

The norovirus stomach bug is highly contagious and can rapidly sweep through

'close-knit' environments like hospitals, schools and cruise ships.

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent the million cases that occur each

year in the UK alone.

The latest US work from Arizona State University was presented to a meeting

of the American Chemical Society.

A number of research teams have been looking at developing a norovirus

vaccine.

There are several vaccines for norovirus in development but all are

probably several years away from being in general use

Health Protection Agency spokeswoman

But because noroviruses are continually mutating, much like flu, it is a

moving target for vaccine developers and production costs can skyrocket.

According to the Arizona team, using plants to make and grow the vaccines

offers an answer to this because the manufacturing process is fast enough to

keep pace with the shape-shifting virus.

Lead researcher Dr Arntzen said: " With plant-based vaccines, we can

generate the first gram quantities of the drug and do clinical tests within

eight to 10 weeks.

" We could easily scale that up for commercial use in a two- to four-month

period. "

There are cost advantages too relating to vaccine purification and

formulation, says Dr Arntzen.

After successful experiments in mice of a candidate vaccine, his team has

developed a nasal delivery system for the vaccine that is ready for testing

in clinical trials planned for later this year.

The new vaccine was manufactured in a tobacco plant using an engineered

plant virus. It contains none of the infectious material of the original

virus but is able to trigger the body's immune response to ward off an

actual norovirus infection.

A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said: " There are several

vaccines for norovirus in development but all are probably several years

away from being in general use.

" In the meantime, until one is produced that is effective and safe we

recommend strict adherence to the outbreak control measures that exist to

stop the virus spreading in hospitals and cruise ships.

" On an individual level, if someone has a norovirus infection they are advised

to stay at home and practise good hand hygiene using soap and water to stop the

virus from spreading to other members of the household. "