Vaccines for Rabies Virus (RV)

RV causes hydrophobia in animals and human in many countries like. South America, Africa, Asia (including India and Pakistan). Researches are being done to synthesize vaccines by inducing genetically engineered E. coli cells. However, attempt has been made to isolate mRNA encoding viral protein from RV infected cells. The genes coding for the production of rabies virus glycoprotein coat has been successfully transferred to E. coli. This is the first step towards the production of antirabies virus vaccines as this glycoprotein stimulates antibody production in diseased animals. In 1984, Wistar Institute in Philadelphia developed a new genetically engineered vaccinia virus by inserting a small piece of foreign DNA. The genetically engineered virus synthesized antirabies vaccines for animals. The recombinant vaccinia virus did not cause rabies in those animals that received rabies genome but encoded antigenic molecules and activated the immune system against rabies infection. This new vaccine can be administered orally in animals, and could be decreased the risk of human death due to bites of animals receiving rabies virus (Peters, 1993).