Kenya intensifies response to African Swine Fever outbreaks
Kenya has intensified measures to contain African Swine Fever (ASF) following outbreaks that have affected more than 20 farms in Kiambu County since mid-May, resulting in approximately 1,470 pig deaths. The highly contagious disease has also been reported in Tharaka-Nithi, Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Migori counties, raising concerns over its potential spread and [...] The post Kenya…
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a viral disease transmitted by ticks that can cause severe illness. Currently, there are no licensed treatments. Researchers evaluated a vaccine candidate based on a specific strain of the virus. This adjuvanted vaccine was tested in mice. The research looked at how different adjuvants influenced the immune response.
Addavax and another adjuvant called SDI were found to be most effective in boosting antibody production. The vaccine's main target was the virus's nucleoprotein, which triggered a broad immune response. Other parts of the virus, like a protein called Gn, induced weaker immune responses. Importantly, sera from mice immunized with SDI or Addavax showed cross-reactivity with a different strain, indicating broader protection.
The vaccine also provided partial protection when transferred to other mice. These results suggest that the vaccine platform holds promise and that adjuvant choice plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness and breadth of the immune response.
Written by urgent.news from bioRxiv's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
