After claiming their jab is the ‘first in the world’, Italian researchers have revealed plans to test a vaccine on humans to neutralise the virus.
According to reports, scientists gave mice the jab – which is being developed by Rome-based Takis Biotech – and took the antibodies they made in response.
Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system to remember how to fight off a specific infection, and are vital for immunity.
Preliminary results from lab tests showed the antibodies created in test mice were able to stop human cells being infected with the coronavirus.
Takis chief executive Luigi Aurisicchio revealed the Italian team plans to start trials in the autumn, as scientists race to halt the pandemic.
He said: ‘As far as we know we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine.’
But leading scientists today said they would be amazed if none of the other vaccines in development hadn’t shown a similar response in mice.
Oxford University is one of several teams around the world already trailling a jab on humans – and plans to have millions of doses ready by September.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today, however, that there is no guarantee an antidote for the coronavirus will ever be found.
The Italian team compared a single dose of five different vaccine candidates on mice at Spallanzani Hospital in Rome.
All are DNA based vaccines; the method involved injecting a tiny amount of cloned genetic code from the virus into the body.
DNA or RNA based vaccines are not made with a weakened or deactivated virus, nor elements of the virus, which means they can be produced on a huge scale in the lab without needing any fresh samples.
The DNA in the vaccine gets taken up into the recipient’s cells and the body reacts in a similar way as it would if it were infected with the real virus, triggering an immune response. The virus’s absence, however, means their health is not put at risk.
Each candidate produced a ‘strong antibody response’ against the virus in 14 days, the researchers said.
Two, in particular, were considered to be ‘the best candidates for a future clinical study’, Takis said.
Antibodies, substances created in response to a virus, were taken from the blood of the mice and added to human cells that had been grown in a petri dish.
They worked against the infection and successfully prevented the SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding to, and infecting, the human cells.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, Mr Aurisicchio said this week: ‘This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy.
‘According to Spallanzani Hospital, as far as we know we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated a neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine.
‘We expect this to happen in humans too.’ He added that human tests are expected ‘after this summer’, implying they would begin in the autumn.
Mr Aurisicchio added that the process could be sped up if international institutions helped to fund the work.
Takis said the results were ‘extremely positive’ in a statement on April 10. The findings are not publicly available.
Infectious disease experts today described the findings as promising, as scientists around the world continue to hunt down an effective vaccine.
