Italian COVID-19 Vaccine Becomes First to Neutralize Coronavirus in Human Cells

Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, told the Italian news agency ANSA that a coronavirus candidate vaccine had neutralized the virus in human cells for the first time. Tests conducted by the researchers on mice showed that the vaccine has antibodies that work on human cells.

The researchers found five vaccine candidates generated a large number of antibodies, out of which they selected two with the best results. The vaccines were administered to animals using the DNA-electroporation technique which consists of an intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse. This helps the vaccine break into the cells and activates the immune system, making the vaccine highly effective for generating functional antibodies against the 'spike' protein, in particular in the lung cells, which are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus

After a single dose, the five candidate DNA-based vaccines were able to induce a strong antibody response against the COVID-19 spike protein in just 14 days, out of which two vaccine candidates particularly induced the strongest antibody production. Aurisicchio told ANSA that this was the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy and human tests were expected after this summer. Takis was keen to collaborate internationally to speed up the process of development of the vaccine, according to Aurisicchio.

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