SINGAPORE: Scientists from A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), and French biopharmaceutical company, VIVALIS, are a step closer in finding a vaccine for Chikungunya, a disease spread by the Aedes mosquito.
They have discovered two new fully human monoclonal antibodies which could neutralize several Chikungunya strains in a lab setting.
The international
team of scientists, coordinated by Dr Lucile Warter of SIgN, published
their groundbreaking discovery in the Journal of Immunology.
The report said monoclonal antibodies can be more potent and have fewer side effects than conventional small molecule drugs.
The scientists are conducting further tests to validate the antibodies' performance as a potential treatment for Chikungunya.
Chikungunya is prevalent in Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia.
In Singapore alone, over 1,000 Chikungunya cases were reported over the last two years.
- CNA/fa