Regarding the posted article “Hepatitis E vaccine debuts: Success of Chinese bio
ID: 3164762 • Letter: R
Question
Regarding the posted article “Hepatitis E vaccine debuts: Success of Chinese biotech partnership raises hopes for prevention of overlooked diseases” (Nature 10/29/2012):
1A (20 points) The workers made a recombinant subunit vaccine in E. coli host cells. Hepatitis E virus is a non-enveloped virus that contains an RNA genome and icosahedral capsid. Describe a stepwise process that could be used to develop and produce the vaccine. You have purified hepatitis E virus genomic RNA as starting material.
Explanation / Answer
Chinese have discovered "Hecolin" vaccine against Hepatitis E.
The steps to develop and produce the vaccine are:
1. Purified hepatitis E virus genomic RNA.
2. Second step is to isolate an antigen from the purified virus.
3. Antigen will be purified so that we get a high purity antigen. This can be accomplished using protein purification techniques.
4. The adjuvant addition is done that enhances the immune system of recipient to supply antigen .
5. Vaccine is tested in animals and then in human.
6. Stabilizers are added to the vaccine for longer use.