St. Louis-based Washington University School of Medicine researchers identified "broadly neutralizing" antibodies that protect against infection by multiple viruses causing fever and joint pain, according to new max health.
Here are four notes:
1. Researchers studied the use of the vaccine in mice, which laid the groundwork for a single treatment against various "alpha viruses" such as Chikungunya virus.
2. Lead researcher, Michael Diamond, MD, and his colleagues studied mosquito-borne viruses that usually cause only sporadic outbreaks.
3. After screening 60 antibodies against Chikungunya, researchers found 10 antibodies reacted against three or more different viruses that cause arthritis-like symptoms.
4. The National Institute of Health, in part, funded the study.
Dr. Diamond said, "We have more work to do but are encouraged that [this] could be a viable strategy for developing vaccines or treatments against Chikungunya and other related viruses that cause significant disease worldwide."
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