SINGAPORE: Scientists from A*STAR's Singapore
Immunology Network (SIgN), and French biopharmaceutical company,
VIVALIS, are a step closer in finding a vaccine for Chikungunya, a
disease spread by the Aedes mosquito.
They have discovered two new fully human monoclonal
antibodies which could neutralize several Chikungunya strains in a
lab setting.
The international team of scientists, coordinated by
Dr Lucile Warter of SIgN, published their groundbreaking discovery
in the Journal of Immunology.
The report said monoclonal antibodies can be more potent and have
fewer side effects than conventional small molecule drugs.
The scientists are conducting further tests to validate the
antibodies' performance as a potential treatment for
Chikungunya.
Chikungunya is prevalent in Africa, South Asia, and South-East
Asia.
In Singapore alone, over 1,000 Chikungunya cases were reported over
the last two years.
- CNA/fa