Innovation in Vaccine and Drug Development Processes (Essay Sample)

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Innovation in Drug Development
Immune evasion by pathogenic microorganisms has immensely paralyzed the vaccine and drug development processes. Moreover, immune evasion by viruses has infringed the general treatment standards that were initially effective towards the resultant ailments. The core factor resulting in immune evasion by microorganisms is the polymorphic nature of the gene coding for the surface protein that produces an antigen that is detected by the humoral and cell-mediated immunity. In this accord, the influenza virus that resumes various distinct identities has posed a great challenge in drug development, because, it changes two of its surface proteins, hence enabling it to evade the body’s immune system. In light of this, scientientist have developed a computer program that is capable of targeting the constant region of the viral genome. Hence, this development translated to the designing of a protein that eradicates the pathogenicity of the virus. However, the administration of the protein with the capability to eliminate the virulence of the Influenza virus has been tested in mice. In light of this development, this essay seeks to summarize and provide a reflection of David Shultz article, "Computer helps researchers tackle flu strains at once.”
The development of the computer system that can identify the viruses’ constant region is pivotal to the pursuit of antiviral development for other viral strains, regardless of their polymorphic nature. Scientists in PLOS Pathogen have revealed that they have designed a molecule that targets the hemagglutinin’s vulnerable region exclusively. One of the targeted regions is the epitope protein that constitutes the surface protein. In this accord, the designed molecule is capable of detecting the conserved region of the virus across the diverse strain resulting from mutations. The research that has proven to be significant to the drug development process commenced with HB36.5, a small protein molecule that binds to Influenza’s hemagglutinin. Subsequently, using diverse computer algorithms and laboratory assay techniques to test and induce various mutations on the protein HB36.5 to enable it to bind to a wide array of hemagglutinin from different influenza strains (Shultz, 2016).
The research translated to a new molecule which had nine mutations, and it is called HB36.6. The molecule was then administered in mice, followed by administration of Influenza Virus. The recombinant mice were then subjected to laboratory analysis. Remarkably, the mice survived the pathogenicity and virulence of the Influenza virus and lost far much less weight as compared to other control experiment done before. However, as the Deborah Fuller, the leader of the study, points out, the success in mice is not directly a reflection of success in humans, but it is a massive breakthrough and a scientific realization that could be pivotal to the designing of human antiviruses.
In my opinion, the research was an emblem of dedication and progress in the development of antiviruses against pathogenic viruses that are life threatening to human beings....