Queensland enlisted in search for coronavirus vaccine

The University of Queensland has been commissioned to fast-track a vaccine to help control 바카라사이트 new coronavirus outbreak as concern mounts over its potential spread.

Queensland is one of three groups commissioned to develop a vaccine against 바카라사이트 virus, known as nCoV-2019, by 바카라사이트 Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The aim is to advance vaccine candidates into clinical testing as quickly as possible.

The development comes just a week after 바카라사이트 Brisbane-based university signed a partnership with CEPI, which has funded it to help construct a ¡°rapid-response pipeline¡± capable of developing and testing new vaccines in as little as 16 weeks.

The National Institutes of Health in 바카라사이트 US is also reportedly in 바카라사이트 process of developing a vaccine, as are 바카라사이트 biotech companies Novavax, Moderna and Inovio ¨C 바카라사이트 last two also funded by CEPI. But experts say it could be more than a year before a vaccine is available, and months before early stage clinical trials can be initiated.

That could be too long, with widespread suspicions that reports from China ¨C where 바카라사이트 virus originated ¨C understate 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 outbreak. Questions on transmissibility remain unanswered, including 바카라사이트 crucial issue of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 disease can be caught from infected people who are not yet exhibiting symptoms.

¡°There is a lot that is still unknown regarding how easily 바카라사이트 virus is able to be transmitted between humans,¡± said Queensland vice-chancellor Peter H?j.

Paul Young, head of Queensland¡¯s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said 바카라사이트 university had developed a new way to rapidly generate vaccines from analyses of viruses¡¯ genetic sequence information.

He said 바카라사이트 team hoped to develop a vaccine in 바카라사이트 next six months for distribution to first responders, helping to prevent medics from becoming infected and accelerating 바카라사이트 disease¡¯s spread.

Co-lead investigator Keith Chappell said ¡°molecular clamp¡± technology developed and patented by Queensland would be key to 바카라사이트 project¡¯s success. ¡°[It] provides stability to 바카라사이트 viral protein that is 바카라사이트 primary target for our immune defence.¡±

The technology had been designed as a ¡°platform approach¡± to generate vaccines against human and animal viruses, he said. It had shown promising results in laboratory tests targeting viruses such as influenza, Ebola, 바카라사이트 potentially lethal Nipah and Middle East respiratory syndrome.

john.ross@ws-2000.com