Australia produces fluke fluke vaccine

Australian scientists have developed a vaccine against blood-borne parasites, a disease that affects 200 million people around the world.

Liver fluke larvae (Photo: VNN)

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to help the body detect parasites, and in trials have reduced the rate of trematode infections by more than 60%. Flukes, found in tropical pond waters in developing countries, cause liver cancer, kidney failure, cirrhosis and even death.

Alex Loukas, head of the Helminth Biological Laboratory at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, said vaccines made by his team could save thousands of lives because this is a more realistic solution than current therapy. Mr. Loukas said: 'There are drugs that can kill this parasite, but the problem is that people have to keep with them for life. This vaccine can protect people for 5-10 years instead of having to treat them every few months'.

The vaccine is currently being tested in animals and is awaiting funding so that clinical trials can be conducted in humans.

Q.HONG