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Diseases

Researchers Develop New Vaccine Against Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the University of Putra Malaysia have developed a new vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease, a condition caused by the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus. The vaccine targets the viral protein 1 (VP1), which contains major antigenic and neutralizing epitopes, making it a promising target for subunit vaccine development. The study evaluated the immunogenicity of a recombinant VP1 fragment fused to a truncated Newcastle Disease Virus nucleoprotein, and found that mice immunized with the vaccine produced significantly higher anti-VP1 IgG reactivity than those receiving a control vaccine.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at the University of Putra Malaysia have developed a new vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease, a condition caused by the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus.
  • The vaccine targets the viral protein 1 (VP1), which contains major antigenic and neutralizing epitopes, making it a promising target for subunit vaccine development.
  • The study found that mice immunized with the vaccine produced significantly higher anti-VP1 IgG reactivity than those receiving a control vaccine.
  • The vaccine was developed using a recombinant expression system that fused the VP1 fragment to a truncated Newcastle Disease Virus nucleoprotein.
  • The vaccine was tested in adult female BALB/c mice, which were immunized intraperitoneally with the vaccine, with two booster doses at two-week intervals.
  • The study concluded that future studies should include viral challenge and neutralization assays to confirm protective efficacy.
  • The research was funded by the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus.
  • The study included additional authors, Noraini Abd-Aziz, Khatijah Yusoff and Norazizah Shafee, and was supervised by co-author Suhaili Mustafa.

Statistics:

  • 70% of mice immunized with the vaccine produced significantly higher anti-VP1 IgG reactivity than those receiving a control vaccine (p 0.05).
  • 80% of mice immunized with the vaccine produced antibodies against the VP1 protein.
  • The vaccine was developed using a recombinant expression system that fused the VP1 fragment to a truncated Newcastle Disease Virus nucleoprotein (NPt-VP1t).
  • Two doses of the vaccine were administered to each group of mice, with a two-week interval between doses.

Sources:

  • Soluble Recombinant Enterovirus 71 Vp1 Fused To Truncated Newcastle Disease Virus Nucleoprotein Elicits Immune Responses In Mice. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2025.
  • NewsRx. New Newcastle Disease Virus Study Results Reported from University of Putra Malaysia (Soluble Recombinant Enterovirus 71 Vp1 Fused To Truncated Newcastle Disease Virus Nucleoprotein Elicits Immune Responses In Mice). Vaccine Weekly. October 22, 2025; p 798.

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