A member of medical staff is seen holding a testing kit at an NHS coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing facility, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. \u2014 Reuters<\/p>\n
Rome, May 7<\/strong><\/p>\n Italian researchers have claimed that they have successfully developed a vaccine to contain coronavirus (Covid-19) which is likely to work on humans, a report said.<\/p>\n Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, the firm developing the medication, said that a coronavirus candidate vaccine has neutralised the virus in human cells for the first time, the Arab News reported.<\/p>\n “This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy. Human tests are expected after this summer,” Aurisicchio was quoted as saying to Italian news agency ANSA.<\/p>\n “According to the Spallanzani Hospital, as far as we know we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine. We expect this to happen in humans too,” he added.<\/p>\n The researchers experimented with the vaccine on mice that had successfully developed antibodies that blocked the virus from infecting the cells. They further observed that the five vaccine candidates generated a large number of antibodies, and selected two with the best results.<\/p>\n All of the vaccine candidates currently being developed are based on the genetic material of DNA protein “spike”, the molecular tip used by the coronavirus to enter human cells.<\/p>\n They are injected with the so-called “electroporation” technique, which consists of an intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse, helping the vaccine break into the cells and activating the immune system, the report said.<\/p>\n Researchers believe that this makes their vaccine particularly effective for generating functional antibodies against the “spike” protein, in particular in the lung cells, which are the most vulnerable to coronavirus.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We are working hard for a vaccine coming from Italian research, with an all-Italian and innovative technology, tested in Italy and made available to everyone,” Aurisicchio was quoted by the Arab News report.<\/p>\n “In order to reach this goal, we need the support of national and international institutions and partners who may help us speed up the process,” he noted.<\/p>\n