(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) Hong Kong and Macau universities collaborate to develop a new coronavirus vaccine to conduct human clinical testing

  China News Service, Hong Kong, August 3 (Reporter Han Xingtong) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University announced on August 3 that it has made progress in cooperating with Macau University of Science and Technology to develop a new coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine will enter the human clinical testing phase in the next few months. Once the development is successful, it can be mass-produced quickly and at a reasonable price.

Data map: Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Image source: Hong Kong Polytechnic University official website

  It is reported that the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Macau University of Science and Technology and mainland universities have cooperated to develop new coronavirus vaccines. Research has found that recombinant RBD protein vaccines can induce effective functional neutralizing antibody responses in animals and bring strong protection against new coronaviruses. Immunity, and shows good safety. The research was recently published in the top scientific journal "Nature".

  In the next few months, the vaccine will enter the human clinical testing phase to understand whether the vaccine produces the same effect in the human body and how long the vaccine effect can last.

  Liu Yaonan, visiting professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who participated in the research, said that the team vaccinated rabbits, mice and monkeys, and found that only a single injection is required. These three types of animals can produce large amounts of antibodies. . He explained that the principle seems to be that the virus needs a key to enter the human cells and destroy it, and the antibody locks the door, preventing the new coronavirus from reproducing.

  Liu Yaonan said that this kind of recombination technology is very mature in today's scientific community. Once it is successfully developed, it can be mass-produced quickly and at a reasonable price. He said that at present, pharmaceutical companies from many countries and regions have come to contact and express their interest in cooperation. He promised that once the production is successful, 8 million doses of vaccine will be reserved for Hong Kong and Macau citizens.

  Wei Bingjiang, Executive and Vice President of Academic Affairs of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said that the epidemic has not slowed down and we urgently need a vaccine to effectively deal with the new crown virus. With the efforts of the research team, it has been found that the recombinant RBD protein vaccine can be the best against this epidemic. The best vaccine choice. He also said that the university will continue to use its own expertise and prevention and control technology to enable the public to coexist with the new coronavirus and live in this "new normal". (Finish)