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03 April 2020Australian scientists have initiated first-stage trials of two 'candidate' vaccines for Covid-19 on ferrets raised in the Australian Animal Health Laboratory of the national scientific agency Csiro in Melbourne. The tests, conducted in a high-level bioprotection facility, are expected to take three months. Ferrets, who have respiratory systems similar to humans, are vaccinated and after four weeks to allow immunity to develop, they will be given a dose of the virus. CSiro fully participates in the global response to Covid-19 and plans to conduct tests for other 'candidate' vaccines shortly.

Since last year he has been part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a global group that aims to curb epidemics by boosting vaccine development. And he has already asked Csiro to test vaccines formulated by the University of Oxford in Great Britain and by Inovio Pharmaceuticals in the USA, in preparation for tests on humans. Researchers have observed that the virus mutates into a number of distinct "clusters" and is examining how this may indicate how a vaccine is developed. The lab has been studying the new coronavirus since January and is preparing to test new candidates as soon as they become available - reports laboratory director TrevorDrew, who leads the project. "We need to balance the need to act urgently with critical biosecurity needs," he told the media. He added that the most effective way to administer the vaccine is being sought, whether by intra-muscle injection or with nasal spray. CSIRO is the first research organization outside China to have generated sufficient stock of Covid-19 - using the strain isolated from the Doherty Institute in Melbourne- to allow for preclinical studies and research. Last month, his researchers developed a biological model that first examines the ferrets' reaction to the virus. They then delved into the study of the course of infection in animals, a crucial step in evaluating the effectiveness of a vaccine.