BEIJING, 5 December (BelTA - People's Daily) - Chinese scientists have converted infectious viruses into live vaccines in an effort to tackle various deadly viruses. The research has been hailed as a “revolution” in vaccinology, and was published in the latest issue of Science.
The experiment, which was conducted by scientists from Peking University, aimed to modify the viruses' genetic codes to disable the viral strains' self-replication mechanism. By injecting fully infectious live viruses into infected animals, the research team found that the animals were cured by the injections, which generated immunity.
The breakthrough has gone viral online after being published on Dec. 2, as using live viruses in their fully infectious forms has previously been considered taboo due to the viruses' ability to swiftly spread. Vaccines sold today generally contain either dead or weakened forms of viruses, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
Zhou Demin, a professor at Peking University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the study's lead scientist, told SCMP that the research can overcome nearly any kind of virus as well as mutations with minimal side effects.
“I believe the technology will benefit patients soon,” he added.
The research team had already acquired international patents for the technology, while contact has been made with vaccine manufacturers to begin human trials, according to SCMP.
