<p>Scientists in Singapore say they have developed a way to track genetic changes that speeds testing of vaccines against a <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> that has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide.</p>.<p>The scientists, at the city-state's Duke-NUS Medical School, say their technique needs just days to evaluate potential vaccines provided by Arcturus Therapeutics, an American biotech firm the school has partnered with for the trials.</p>.<p>That timeframe compares with the months usually required for testing based on human responses.</p>.<p>"You can know from the way the genes change - what genes are turned on, what are turned off," said Ooi Eng Eong, deputy director of the school's emerging infectious diseases programme.</p>.<p>Swift assessment of such changes triggered by a vaccine allows the scientists to determine its effectiveness and side effects, instead of relying solely on responses from humans who receive it, he added.</p>.<p>Currently, there are no approved medicines or preventive vaccines targeting the virus, with most patients receiving only supportive care, such as help with their breathing. Experts have said getting a vaccine ready could take a year or more.</p>.<p>Ooi said he planned to start testing vaccines in mice in about a week, with human trials expected in the second half of the year.</p>.<p>Pharmaceutical firms and researchers around the globe are racing to develop vaccines and treatments for the virus, which has infected more than 377,000 people.</p>.<p>These efforts include Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir and a plasma-derived therapy from Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.</p>.<p>In a key step towards developing diagnostic methods, the Duke-NUS scientists helped culture the virus in late January, days after Singapore confirmed its first infection. That made it the third country, outside China, to culture the virus.</p>.<p>Another first was a test to detect virus antibodies even in those who had already recovered, crucial in containment efforts that have won global praise for Singapore.</p>.<p>From discovery to licensing, vaccine development in the past could take more than 10 years, but Ooi said science can now offer a much faster response.</p>.<p>"Everyone is racing ahead, but we are kind of writing the playbook as the game is being played," he added.</p>
<p>Scientists in Singapore say they have developed a way to track genetic changes that speeds testing of vaccines against a <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> that has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide.</p>.<p>The scientists, at the city-state's Duke-NUS Medical School, say their technique needs just days to evaluate potential vaccines provided by Arcturus Therapeutics, an American biotech firm the school has partnered with for the trials.</p>.<p>That timeframe compares with the months usually required for testing based on human responses.</p>.<p>"You can know from the way the genes change - what genes are turned on, what are turned off," said Ooi Eng Eong, deputy director of the school's emerging infectious diseases programme.</p>.<p>Swift assessment of such changes triggered by a vaccine allows the scientists to determine its effectiveness and side effects, instead of relying solely on responses from humans who receive it, he added.</p>.<p>Currently, there are no approved medicines or preventive vaccines targeting the virus, with most patients receiving only supportive care, such as help with their breathing. Experts have said getting a vaccine ready could take a year or more.</p>.<p>Ooi said he planned to start testing vaccines in mice in about a week, with human trials expected in the second half of the year.</p>.<p>Pharmaceutical firms and researchers around the globe are racing to develop vaccines and treatments for the virus, which has infected more than 377,000 people.</p>.<p>These efforts include Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental antiviral drug remdesivir and a plasma-derived therapy from Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.</p>.<p>In a key step towards developing diagnostic methods, the Duke-NUS scientists helped culture the virus in late January, days after Singapore confirmed its first infection. That made it the third country, outside China, to culture the virus.</p>.<p>Another first was a test to detect virus antibodies even in those who had already recovered, crucial in containment efforts that have won global praise for Singapore.</p>.<p>From discovery to licensing, vaccine development in the past could take more than 10 years, but Ooi said science can now offer a much faster response.</p>.<p>"Everyone is racing ahead, but we are kind of writing the playbook as the game is being played," he added.</p>