There has been a breakthrough in the fight against the deadly
Hendra virus following the development of a treatment which shows
great potential to save the lives of people who become infected
with the virus.
A scientific team from CSIRO and the US has demonstrated that
administering human monoclonal antibodies after exposure to Nipah
virus, which is closely related to Hendra virus, protected animals
from challenge in a disease model.
According to CSIRO's Dr Deborah Middleton, who led the
experiments at Australia's maximum biosecurity facility, CSIRO's
Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, said the
findings are extremely encouraging.
"Our research clearly suggests that an effective treatment for
Hendra virus infections in humans should be possible, given the
very strong cross-reactive activity this antibody has against
Hendra virus," she said.
Antibodies – proteins found in blood or other bodily
fluids of vertebrates – are used by the immune system to
identify and neutralise bacteria and viruses.
First identified in Brisbane and isolated by CSIRO scientists in
1994, Hendra virus, which spreads from flying foxes, has regularly
infected horses in Australia. Of the 12 equine outbreaks, four have
led to human infection, with four of the seven known human cases
being fatal, the most recent of these in September 2009. Human
infection results from close contact with the blood and/or mucus of
infected horses.
Dr Middleton said the success of the antibody will probably
depend on dose and time of administration.
"As Hendra and Nipah viruses cause severe disease in humans, a
successful application of this antibody as a post-exposure therapy
will likely require early intervention.
"To make clinical use of it against these viruses, it will need
to be prepared under proper manufacturing guidelines, carefully
evaluated again in animal models and safety tested for human use.
We hope this demonstration of antiviral activity will lead to some
immediate activities to facilitate further development for its use
in humans," Dr Middleton said.
SOURCE