A New Vaccine for Protection of Children and Adults Against Schistosomiasis
Lloyd Semprevivo, Ph.D.
A new vaccine has been developed that has the potential to protect children and adults from Schistosomiasis. Now demonstrated in laboratory mice to show 100% protection against a virulent challenge by 100 parasites.
The vaccination of large numbers of humans in developing nations is the only effective method to eliminate Schistosomiasis. There is presently no vaccine or effective post infection treatment available that permanently eliminates this parasite from large populations of humans.
This vaccine is effective because its synthesis is based on the schistosomes' own protection mechanism. The vaccine creates an IgG (as well as an IgM) immunological response in the host to which the parasite is subjected as soon as it enters, whereupon the parasite is immediately killed before any damage can be done to the host (human).
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