Korean veterinary scientists said yesterday that they have succeeded in developing a human vaccine against the A(H1N1) influenza virus that has alarmed the world.
They say the vaccine against the virus, which was initially called swine flu, is the first in the world and it should be available to humans in four months. A research team led by Suh Sang-hee, professor of veterinary science at Chungnam National University, said that through genetic recombination of genes extracted from the standard H1N1 virus they have developed a vaccine that is non-infective and can be mass produced.
The breakthrough came only 11 days after the team received samples of the virus from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and began research, according to the university. It generally takes around three months for a vaccine to be developed.
The article notes the Korean Center for Disease Control has yet to verify the researchers' claims. It looks like the team's leader, though, has some impressive credentials.
[Suh Sang-hee] is an established figure in international influenza research, having produced a vaccine against the highly pathogenic avian flu strain last October. He was the first in the world to identify the human cause of the avian flu influenza, which claimed six lives in Hong Kong in 1997. Also, he is the only scientist in Korea who has won official approval from the U.S. CDC, enabling him to obtain highly virulent flu virus samples for research whenever necessary. He said he is willing to provide the vaccine to Korean and world health authorities as well as pharmaceutical firms free of charge. The U.S. CDC has already made such a request.
15 comments:
I'm calling B.S. on this one.
Unless its published in a peer reviewed internationally recognized science journal, im skeptical (scientifically) about this one. Since basically thats the standard of gauging someones scientific credibility. Korean media as well as researchers themselves are almost always exaggerated when it comes to any scientific output like this.
the cure is kimchi.
http://roboseyo.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-make-your-american-beef-safe.html
Vaccine manufacturer goes at a pace significantly faster than peer reviewed journal articles.
The proof in the pudding will be if anyone — including the ROK government — ends up using this vaccine or its derivatives.
Their claim to have made a swine flu vaccine, if true, is neither surprising nor particularly difficult technologically. Vaccine production for new strains is a fairly mechanical process, I believe, and being first is just a matter of drive plus luck.
By the way, Brian, I thought you'd appreciate this.
Pretty sweet if true.
I'll give odds they are lying. Korea: Hub of Science! Lies, lies, lies....They will never stop with the lies. A pandemic is at hand and the planet is saved but, uhm....Koreans?! Ludicrous. Is this getting worldwide press? I havent seen it. If it does, it will get more press than the back half of the story that they falsified data.
CNN interviewed the guy. This is not actually a major technological achievement. It's a public health breakthrough, if it's true.
But it probably isn't, because if one Korean scientist lies, then all Korean scientists are probably lying. Just like if one American scientist lies, then all American scientists are probably lying.
"Vaccine manufacturer goes at a pace significantly faster than peer reviewed journal articles"
- I agree. Press release first, then journal publication(at least for vaccine development)
"Their claim to have made a swine flu vaccine, if true, is neither surprising nor particularly difficult technologically"
- Quite surprising actually especially talking about the short time it took them to come up with something (If its true). How effective is a different story. Methodology is a big factor too. Reverse genetics is not easy.
"Vaccine production for new strains is a fairly mechanical process, I believe, and being first is just a matter of drive plus luck"
- Not really. There are so many problems to solve and criteria to satisfy in constructing a new vaccine especially for a new strain. Thats why a peer reviewed journal or a government license will at least clear the doubts regarding the authenticity, efficacy and safety of the new product.
I dont want to go to the technical details, but the human immune system is mind perplexing, and the virus is clever enough making this task quite difficult.
"But it probably isn't, because if one Korean scientist lies, then all Korean scientists are probably lying. Just like if one American scientist lies, then all American scientists are probably lying"
- Thats a nice point. Its quite unfortunate this mentality exists among the general population. Blaming the whole, for a sin of one. But thats what you can expect from a bunch of ignoramuses.
Kushibo,
My point is that there is widespread lying, cheating, and dishonesty in Korea. This point cannot be rationally argued as it is a fact. Secondly....it is really not possible that the cure for the spread of a pandemic will come out of Korea. C'mon....this is just Koreans being attention whores.
Claiming you have created a vaccine is easy. Using it on humans to success is quite another. As Kush said, the proof will be in the pudding.
Caught this just now, which includes the following section:
"Manufacturers won't be able to start making the vaccine until mid-July at the earliest, weeks later than previous predictions, according to an expert panel convened by WHO. It will then take months to produce the vaccine in large quantities.
The swine flu virus is not growing very fast in laboratories, making it difficult for scientists to get the key ingredient they need for a vaccine, the "seed stock" from the virus, WHO said."
Maybe I'm misreading the article, but that last paragraph makes it sound like WHO is still waiting for a vaccine. Suh Sang-hee, you may need to ring up the United Nations ...
what they have right now is just a candidate strain. The construction of that strain is delicate and not an easy one. Next step is inducing immune response using that strain. If successful (assuming titer is fine, and specificity is near perfect), then they will go on with standard protocols such as testing for safety then mass production.
I cannot believe the negative comments about the abilities of the Koreans to develop a vaccine! Several of you idiots obviously have no idea there is a difference in north and south Korea. This Dr. is from S.Korea. Yes, the country that brought us Hyundai automobiles...the car company who just introduced a vehicle that can outrun a Mustang GT (V8) with a V6 engine, with a much better build quality. S. Korea is the most wired nation on earth. Nearly the entire country is on WiFi. Call BS if you want. If you have to wait to get your info from the mainstream media, or from some science journal which is financially bound to pharma companies, you are the idiot. There is a name for you who take such an arrogant attitude ... sheeple.
The Jacksons, while I agree that it is unwise to have as a prima facie impression that Korean technology is farce, fakery, or chicanery, you must also remember that South Korea is the home of Dr Hwang Woosuk, a man who was the enduring face of Korean science both before and after his fall.
As for Hyundai (and Kia), yes, these are cars that are very good to excellent, but the enduring image is that of the Hyundai Excel, circa 1986.
Think that's unfair? Well, look at the beating that American carmakers have taken in terms of reputation. Even after they reach the level of Japanese automakers (e.g., GM's Buick), there are still huge numbers of people in America who won't even consider an American car.
If you're in the States, you must remember the "You gotta put Mercury on your list" ads that were aimed at getting young buyers to just think about that once esteemed brand.
(I myself tried to ween myself off Korean and Japanese cars by purchasing a US-made Honda, a Honda Passport, which is really an Isuzu Trooper, which so far works well for me. I'd consider a Saturn Sky, if Saturn is still around.)
Anyway, if American cars, long a known quantity, have such lingering troubles with image, less-well-known Korea Inc will have even worse problems with lasting bad impressions.
If it gets Korean companies and institutions to try harder and do better, then all the better.
"or from some science journal which is financially bound to pharma companies, you are the idiot. There is a name for you who take such an arrogant attitude ... sheeple."
-- If all people will believe immediately everything that comes out from the media without the proper verification, then its chaos. In the science community, its all skepticism at first, regardless of your status as a scientist. Great discoveries and inventions almost always starts from that. And like what Kushibo mentioned a while ago, Korea is the home of disgraced scientist Dr Hwang WS. That is one of the biggest scientific fraud that occured within the last 5 years, and still resonating. Still very fresh.
-- And to add to the injury, 2 paper retractions (again) from a KAIST professor happened last year regarding a fraudulent result on nanotechnology/molecular medicine. And last, Koreans are always exaggerated about everything especially in this field. I know it because im affiliated in the academia and in the scientific community here. Im not saying its wrong (maybe i dont understand the culture), but seriously i hate it so much. At the same time, i am also giving credit to other Korean science achievements which is at times at par with the competition. But in science, skepticism is always the right attitude. In 1906, famed physicist Ludwig Boltzmann committed suicide because of the extreme pressure and doubts thrown at him by his peers when he presented a mathematical framework for a problem, the year later it was proven, and became one of the most remarkable equations the science world had ever seen. My point is a negative reaction to any scientific claim is perfectly normal. So keep your profane words/descriptions with you.
-- Regarding your attitude towards science journals, it seems you are very fond of conspiracy theories. Although i dont discount the fact that there is political brou ha ha in many science journals, but the thing is you cannot malign the whole scientific publication industry for the sins of some. Thats irresponsible and moronic.
-- Reading your comments, you are no different from nb who knows nothing other than criticizing this country like a kindergarten. Although the two of you exists on different sides. Oftentimes writing a comment using emotions without the benefit of the intellect. Both of you should educate yourselves more by reading at least.
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