Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iranian scientists have acquired the technology to produce kinds of influenza viruses' vaccine seed, including H5N1 bird flu.
The reverse engineering technology for producing influenza vaccine seed happens for the first time in the country, the Mehr news agency said Dec. 28.
Thus, Iran will be able to produce H1N1, H9N2, and H5N1 vaccines.
The limited immunogenicity of H5N1 human vaccines requires higher amounts of H5 antigen than that used for annual vaccination against non-H5N1 influenza virus subtypes. Therefore, a seed virus with more robust growth in eggs is needed to ensure an adequate supply of H5N1 influenza vaccine, should a pandemic occur.