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Nigeria Scientists Have Developed New Malaria Vaccine In Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Prof. Nasiru Shua’ibu of Biochemical Parasitology Department in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has developed a new malaria vaccine to prevent high rate of death from malaria fever.In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State on Tuesday, Shu’aibu revealed that the new malaria vaccine was unlike others currently in use in the country.
The professor of Biochemical Parasitology, who is presently working with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Japan, said the result of the research on the new vaccine would soon be out for Nigerians to use.
His words:
“In a simple term that a layman can understand, the content of this malaria vaccine research is difficult, but let me try if I could simplify it, it is called DNA Vaccine.
“It is a new technology for discovery and delivery of vaccine against any infectious disease that was developed in the early to mid 1990s.
“The DNA of the malaria parasite was extracted and the portion of the DNA that is tested to be a good vaccine candidate is subjected to molecular biology methods which are used to produce a lot of the DNA.”
Shua’ibu, also explained that the amount of DNA from the malaria parasite was very minute in quantity and to expand the quantity, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used.
“Then a method of cloning is now used to insert the DNA into a vehicle that will carry the DNA into either animal or human body, he continued.
“It is then injected into the body of the animal or human and it eventually enters the cells of the animal in the same way a virus enters and infects cells.
“The injected DNA now uses the cells in the body to produce chemicals that will prevent malaria from infecting the body.”