Post by Wageningen University & Research

🦠🔬 Urgent vaccine research against Ebola Central Africa has been shaken by an outbreak of the Ebola disease. This new Ebola outbreak has underlined the urgent need for vaccines against rare but dangerous viruses. The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a species for which no approved vaccine is currently available. Scientists around the world are therefore working to accelerate the development of new vaccine candidates. WUR virologist Gorben Pijlman is one of them: “In Wageningen, we focus on producing parts of Ebola virus proteins that trigger a strong immune response. For this protein production, we use insect cells, a technology in which WUR has considerable expertise.” Pijlman and his international colleagues are aiming high: “The aim is a broadly effective vaccine that can be deployed quickly during outbreaks of different Ebola or Marburg viruses. Ideally, such a vaccine would also protect against variants we have not seen before. That is scientifically very challenging, but new AI tools are making it increasingly possible to develop promising candidates.” By investing in knowledge, technology and vaccine candidates before the next crisis emerges, we can respond faster when new viral threats appear. #Ebola #Virology #GlobalHealth #WUR