Date:         Tue, 29 Mar 1994 16:24:04 EST
Reply-To: dionisio@INFINET.COM
Subject:      Interesting news on the viral front

Scientists lay groundwork for vaccine for everything

 By LIDIA WASOWICZ
 UPI Science Writer

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 (March 25) UPI - In a
first step toward possible inoculations for virtually any virus,
scientists Friday reported developing a prototype vaccine technology
that uses tiny diamond particles to induce immunity.

The researchers found that their chemically manufactured vaccine using
the Epstein-Barr virus and the AIDS causing human immunodeficiency
virus, or HIV, was as effective as live viruses in producing
antibodies in laboratory rabbits, mice and guinea pigs.

"The results show our decoy virus produces the same immunity as the
live virus," said head researcher Dr. Nir Kossovsky of the University
of California, Los Angeles.

"And there are 7,000 to 8,000 viruses for which this system will
potentially be able to deliver a vaccine. In theory, we can make a
vaccine for any virus that exists."

The UCLA researchers said their "decoy" virus of a sugar-coated core
of tiny diamond particles is harmless but readily recognized by the
body and can deliver a wide array of antigens into the body.

The antigen or "outer clothing" of the virus is the part against which
the body targets its antibody response, said Kossovsky, associate
professor of pathology and laboratory medicine.

"What makes a virus dangerous is the genetic core that allows it to
replicate, " he said. "Our decoy virus has, literally, a heart of
stone that is biologically inactive. It looks like a virus but cannot
reproduce or cause disease."

The sugar coating enables the virus molecules to cling to the core
without becoming damaged or changing shape.

The researchers predict human trials of the vaccine, which can be
chemically manufactured in as little as 48 hours, will begin in two
years to five years.

The scientists presented their findings at a meeting of the American
Chemical Society.