The team of scientists from the University of Bath have developed a new antigen against the Hantaan disease – a type of hantavirus
Photos reveal a British laboratory racing to develop a vaccine against hantavirus – suspected of claiming the lives of three people aboard a cruise ship.
Scientists from the University of Bath have successfully created a new antigen targeting Hantaan disease – a strain of hantavirus.
Hantaviruses are a collection of viruses carried by rodents including mice and rats, spread through their droppings and urine.
Person-to-person transmission of hantavirus remains uncommon, with both the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency confirming that the risk to the general public remains low.
Currently, there is no available vaccine or dedicated antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections.
Treatment remains supportive and symptom-based, including hospital care and respiratory support, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
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Most vaccines require transportation at sub-zero temperatures, but Professor Asel Sartbaeva and her team at EnsiliTech – a Bristol-based startup that emerged from the University of Bath in July 2022 – are looking to transform this with a pioneering technique known as ensilication. The team had already begun work on the vaccine before the MV Hondius outbreak.
EnsiliTech’s ensilicated mRNA platform eliminates the requirement for cold storage and carries the potential to completely transform vaccine distribution worldwide. Professor Sartbaeva, Chemistry researcher at the University and co-founder of Ensilitech, said: “Currently there is no effective vaccine against Hanta viruses, leaving large populations in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America vulnerable to diseases that are originated and transmitted by rodents.
“Our team has developed a new antigen against Hantaan disease, from the Hanta virus group.
“This is a completely new vaccine that has now been tested in the laboratory and in animal models, indicating excellent immune response.
“While more work needs to be done to bring this vaccine to public (clinical trials and approvals) this is a very promising development of a completely new and needed vaccine.”
Hantaviruses are widespread across the globe, with cases recorded in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.
In affected regions, the virus can trigger a range of conditions, from mild flu-like symptoms through to severe respiratory illness.
Last month, the MV Hondius cruise ship departed Argentina, and three passengers subsequently died following an outbreak of the Andes hantavirus strain.
The World Health Organization has confirmed this does not signal the beginning of a pandemic, though the source of the outbreak remains a mystery and the full extent of infections is yet to be established.
In its most recent update, the WHO confirmed that eight cases of hantavirus — three confirmed and five suspected — have been identified amongst those who were aboard the vessel.
