JNU lab could give Washington its latest weapon against terror

http://www.indian-express.com/ie20011104/top2.html#

JNU’s biotech chief develops what could be the first non-toxic anthrax vaccine; Outstanding science: top US cell biology group

PALLAVA BAGLA

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3: THIS weapon could perhaps be India’s most effective contribution to the ‘‘international coalition’’ against terrorism—and it’s expected to be launched from the most unlikely of bases: the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Here, at the Centre for Biotechnology, a team led by chairman Rakesh Bhatnagar has developed what’s being called the world’s most ‘‘advanced candidate’’ for a human anthrax vaccine.

In other words, the raw material is ready—the three key proteins have been created—and clinical trials are set to begin any day.
Currently, there are some vaccines against anthrax—yesterday the Pasteur Institute is said to have developed a vaccine that has been successfully tested on mice—but these are either not authorized because of dangerous side-effects or simply not available.

Bhatnagar’s formulation, developed after seven years of work with a Rs 1-crore grant from the Government’s Department of Biotechnology, is far less toxic.

Coming at a time when four people have died in the US from anthrax infections and the scare has spread worldwide—the first positive case in India was reported yesterday in Mumbai at Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s office—Bhatnagar’s work has the scientific community excited.

His paper was scheduled to be made public in December this year at a conference in Washington DC of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). But in an unusual break from tradition, the society singled out Bhatnagar’s paper—from among 4,000—and released it ‘‘because of its potential impact on public health.’’

When contacted by The Indian Express, Elaine Fuchs, ASCB president and professor of molecular genetics at Chicago’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute said: ‘‘Given the urgent and unexpected need for new and improved methods of treating and preventing anthrax infections, research on anthrax vaccines has surfaced to the forefront of biomedical research in the world. Dr. Bhatnagar’s research has the potential for contributing to these efforts.’’

What’s new and promising about Bhatnagar’s research, says Katherine Wilson, chair of the ASCB team that released his paper and an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins medical school, is that his ‘‘newly engineered anthrax proteins might avoid the side-effects that plagued the previous vaccine. He’s doing outstanding science.’’

At present, a human anthrax vaccine is available for use by US troops and even this vaccine—developed at the behest of the Pentagon—takes 18 months to take effect and has many toxic side effects. In fact, there have been several cases where soldiers have preferred to face disciplinary action than take this six-course dose.

Bhatnagar’s team created harmless mutant forms of three key proteins that together make anthrax fatal. The researchers bio-engineered the anthrax proteins and introduced them into a bacterium. The antigens, produced at the laboratory scale, were then multiplied in a fermenter that produced approximately 5 grams of protective antigen per liter. One gram of this product can supply millions of vaccine shots. It’s this antigen that will undergo clinical trials.

Manju Sharma, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, says that the ‘‘excellent piece of work and all research leads from this will be taken to the logical conclusion.’’ When asked if there were plans to transfer the technology to the industry so that trials could begin, she declined to comment.