Avian Influenza: No Facility Sufficient for Synthetic Vaccine Research

Jakarta, Kompas – Indonesia does not have the facilities to do research in synthetic vaccines for avian influenza. Therefore, research in this field couldn’t be done in Indonesia. This was part of a presentation carried by Head of the Indonesia Institute of Science (LIPI), Umar Anggara Jenie, in a workshop on “Challenges of Avian Influenza Research in Indonesia” on Thursday (4/9) in Jakarta. According to Umar, prevention and treatment of influenza still provides a large field of research, but such studies must face the reality that domestic laboratory facilities are inadequate. Hence, researchers are forced to continue their study abroad.
“One avian influenza researcher from LIPI has decided to continue her research in Australia since last year. The research was to create a synthetic avian influenza vaccine capable of increasing immunity and repairing cells damaged by the avian influenza or H5N1 viruses,” said Umar.

According to Umar, synthetic vaccine is the latest development in advanced technology and little has been done about it in Indonesia.
Researcher Ines Irene Atmosukarto from the Biotechnology Research Center of LIPI is capable of developing inhibitors of M2 proteins which are found in H5N1 viruses. Ines plans to integrate the M2 protein inhibitor into avian influenza vaccines to make synthetic avian influenza vaccines.
“Research like this is crucial because avian influenza has very large effects,” said Umar.
Effect of Avian Influenza
Umar also mentioned five effects of avian influenza, including pandemic, disturbance in the poultry industry, decreased supplies of animal protein, bad reputation for the country, and threat to animal biodiversity because of elimination of local birds.
In the workshop, Chief Executive of the National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Bayu Krisnamurthi, said that from 2004 to June 2008, avian influenza has cost 4.3 trilliun rupiahs to the domestic economy.
“From the economic cost, 80 percent is still indicative. Therefore, avian influenza is still a very open field for research,” said Bayu. Human fatality has reached 110 from 135 patients. According to Bayu, of the 25 non-fatal cases, no study has been done to inquire the success of their survival. (NAW)
Source : Kompas