According to a study led by the University of Leeds, a more inexpensive and safe polio vaccine may be available soon.

Scientists have developed a vaccine using viruses such as particles (VLPs), which mimic poliovirus but have no genetic material. This relieves the risk of infection by triggering an immune response.

Currently, polio vaccines are either passive polio vaccines (IPVs), which use killed viruses, or oral polio vaccines (OPVs), which have weak but live viruses.

The IPV requires strict biote safety measures during production, which makes it expensive, while OPV takes a small risk of mutated strains that cause outbreaks in poor hygiene areas.

About all new success vaccine

The new virus such as particles (VLP) vaccine offers a safe and cheap option for passive polio vaccine and oral polio vaccine. Research published in Nature Communications found that VLPs were produced in yeast and insect cells, as well as triggering an immune response with IPV or performed better.

Professor Nikola Stonehouse, a senior researcher at the University of Leeds, emphasized the importance of making vaccines more accessible.

He said, “Any vaccine is only as effective as it reaches the number of children. VLPs can play an important role in ensuring that a child is not unsafe against polio,” she said.

Dr. of World Health Organization (WHO) Martin Isenhower highlighted that technology could be useful in particular polio elimination phase. “This research brings us closer to a cost -effective and safe vaccine that can be produced by developing countries to ensure long -term global polio elimination,” he said.

Scientists have been working for more than a decade to apply VLP technology – already used in Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines – polio. The next generation vaccine is expected to be produced in yeast or insect cells, which are already used in the vaccine manufacture due to their low cost.

With the ongoing cooperation between researchers, vaccine manufacturers and global health organizations, experts believe that a new polio vaccine may soon become a reality, ensure a future where polio ends.