Originally published September 27 2005
Antibody may be the key in treating a smallpox outbreak
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology may have discovered the protein that quickly diffuses the smallpox virus.
"This is a very important finding because it has the potential to be an effective treatment for smallpox in humans and therefore could help quickly stop a smallpox outbreak," said Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D, LIAI President.
LIAI scientist Shane Crotty, Ph.D., a viral disease expert, led the team of LIAI scientists which made the finding.
Dr. Crotty and his team have discovered a protein in the smallpox virus -- the H3 protein -- that elicits a particularly strong human antibody response.
"Out of the 200 or so proteins contained in the smallpox virus, we found that the H3 protein is a major target for antibodies that kill the virus," he said.
Dr. Crotty made the findings by studying blood samples from people who had received the smallpox vaccine.
"We used new techniques that we developed that made it easier to identify and isolate antibodies from the blood of immunized humans.
Then we carefully screened for the antibodies that fight the smallpox virus," he said.
The researchers then tested their findings by creating a batch of the anti-H3 protein antibodies, which they injected into mice.
He said one focus of the research will be to fully develop anti-H3 antibodies in the lab that can be given to humans.
The smallpox virus has been the subject of intense research interest worldwide in the last several years, prompted by bioterrorism concerns.
Kronenberg said that if further study continues to validate the safety and effectiveness of Dr. Crotty's finding, "we may one day see high-quality batches of anti-H3 antibody stockpiled around the world right along side the supplies of smallpox vaccine.
Unlike the vaccine, the antibody would work to provide immediate, although short-term protection, similar to how an antibiotic treats and for a short time protects against a bacterial infection.
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