Vaccine Against Hepatitis B, Essay Example

The creation of vaccine against Hepatitis B is believed to have been one of the greatest achievements of biotechnology. The responsibility for the creation of the vaccine belongs to UW genetics professor Benjamin Hall and researcher Gustav Ammerer who developed genetic engineering techniques working with yeast cultures.

Hepatitis B is a highly contagious blood-borne virus (it is about one hundred times more contagious than the HIV virus). It is transmitted through blood and sexual contact as well as from mother to child. About 300 million people in the world carry the virus lifelong to die later of cirrhosis or cancer of the liver as a result (in one fourth of the cases).

Developing the vaccine against Hepatitis B is surely lies in the sphere of biotechnology. In the process of research into possibilities of coaxing genetically engineered yeast organisms to grow, the scientists discovered that yeasts were able to easily decode the genes of mammals and synthesize and activate proteins just like mammals. They managed to produce human interferon in yeast – the practice which was later specialized in the production of safe and effecacious Hepatitis B surface antigen.  The protein particles of an overcoat of Hepatitis B virus, which were not contagious by themselves because they lacked DNA but make the body give immune response, were transferred into yeast cells and the former produced the long-sought Hepatitis B surface antigen.

The vaccine underwent appropriate testing, was found safe and started to be produced commercially by the Merck. It was the first victorious example of a genetically engineered vaccine against a human disease, of a vaccine against sexually transmitted disease, and a vaccine against a virus which leads to cancer.

References

Centers for Disease Control, USA (2006). Hepatitis B Vaccine: Fact Sheet.

Hepatitis B. Essential Facts. Retrieved June, 29, 2009, from http://www.stdservices.on.net/std/hepatitis_b/facts.htm

Radetsky, P. (1995). Beyond Biology. Modern Maturity.