Nina Veru
AP Bio, C-odd
Current Event 14
1/18/18
“Fresh Approach to TB Vaccine Offers Better Protection.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180117114910.htm.
In this article, a new vaccine had been tested in the Rhesus Monkey, a specie very similar to humans. This vaccine was first found to be useful in the treatment of HIV, but researchers have recently discovered that it can also help with the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). In this study, the vaccine protected 41% of the monkey’s and reduced the disease in 68% of the infected monkey’s. Researchers compared the results with monkey’s treated by current vaccinations. The results proved that “there was no measurable protection” using the current treatments.
TB is caused by mycobacterium, which spreads through the air. TB results in a violent cough in which the patient can even spit up blood. It is important to note that some people do not exhibit symptoms, in fact only 5-10% of people show symptoms. Although a vaccine already exists, it only protects children.
The principle leader of this study is Dr. Louis Picker who is an associate director of the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute. Picker claims that, “1.7 million people dying globally from TB each year and the rise of strains that are resistant to drug treatment, we need a better way to prevent this disease." Finding a better treatment for TB is crucial since many individuals die from this disease, especially in third world countries. Picker also states that the monkey’s are more susceptible to TB than humans. Therefore the scientists predict that humans will respond better to the vaccine.
What is unique about Picker and his colleagues is that they have a different approach to treating the virus opposed to other researchers. The team uses a weak form of the Herpes virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which infects people without causing the disease itself. Picker weaves small bits of the TB causing pathogen into the CMV, which then “maintains a high state of immunity against the pathogen in vaccinated monkeys.” Picker, along with his team, will continue to better their techniques and will work with Vir Biotechnology Incorporation of San Francisco. Picker will test the vaccine on humans in the year 2020.
I believe this article contains very important information because as previously mentioned about 1.7 million people die of TB annually, especially in third world countries. It is important that scientists develop new vaccines and treatments so that people can survive this disease. I especially liked learning about how this vaccine originated from an HIV vaccine. Although the article was written well, I wish the author of the article had incorporated a different viewpoint on the vaccine or discussed if there are different treatments being tested. In addition, the author could have elaborated more on current treatments.
Mairead Cain
ReplyDeleteMr. Ippolito
A.P. Biology E/F
5 February 2018
“Fresh Approach to TB Vaccine Offers Better Protection.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180117114910.htm.
Nina did a very nice job with her current event review on the article “Fresh Approach to TB Vaccine Offers Better Protection.” from the Science Daily online resource. I decided to review her report as the article title is rather intriguing. There are many good techniques she uses throughout her report. One example is when she explains the biology behind how TB is caused in patients. NHer focus on this factor of the original report is important as it provides background information to help the reader understand the topic at hand. Another aspect of Nina’s writing that was done rather well was when she included statistical information concerning how many people show symptoms from the disease and how many people die from TB annually. This input of information further aids the reader in understanding how deeply the world is affected by TB. Lastly, I appreciated how Nina discussed the problems that countless people across the world experience when they get TB and how they do not have the resources to treat their illness. She explained that people from the less fortunate areas of the world are more likely to suffer severely from TB as they cannot treat themselves.
Overall, Nina’s report was extremely interesting and informative, however there are some details that she could tweak and add to make the current event report even that much better. I recommend that she explains how one could get Tuberculosis. It would have been beneficial for her to go into some detail about this part of the current event as it would have given readers a better insight concerning the source material. Also, she could have given more information concerning the sources the article is taking information from. This would have given readers a further insight on the background of the research in discussion.
Nina’s report was very informative and I learned extensively about how researchers are trying to find better ways to treat Tuberculosis. Before reading the report, I had a limited understanding about how many people are being deeply affected by Tuberculosis and how there is a vaccine that only helps children. Countless people across the world are negatively affected by Tuberculosis, and it extremely important that proper techniques to treating this disease are found to help those in need.