LIVE AVIAN FLU VIRUS VACCINES SHOW PROMISE IN ANIMAL STUDIES

When tested in mice and ferrets, experimental vaccines based on live, weakened versions of different strains of the H5N1 avian influenza virus were well-tolerated and protected the animals from a deadly infection with naturally occurring H5N1 flu viruses. The findings, which appear in the September 12 issue of PLoS Medicine, are also encouraging, the researchers say, because they demonstrate the ability to create a vaccine based on one particular strain of the H5N1 flu virus that could potentially protect against different emerging H5N1 flu strains. Pharmabiz (http://pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=35103§ionid=)