Nordic Life Science 1
COVID-19 UPDATE F I NL AND on research at the Uni
versity of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland and the new company is called Rokote Laboratories. The vaccine is based on gene transfer technology developed by Seppo Ylä-Herttuala’s research group at the University of Eastern Finland. The vaccine uses an adenovirus carrier that contains a cloned DNA strand that causes nasopharyngeal cells to produce the virus protein, which in turn produces a response to the vaccine. Nasal delivery was chosen because the virus is also naturally transmitted through the airways. Nasal administration seems to induce a wider immune response than intramuscular administration, state the researchers. “Vaccines injected intramusKári Stefánsson, CEO, deCODE Genetics I CEL AND ICELAND WINS THE SEQUENCING RACE cularly produce IgG antibodies in the bloodstream, but nasal vaccines also produce an IgA response that protects mucous membranes. We assume that this can also prevent those who have received the vaccine from transmitting the virus,” says Ylä-Herttuala. SCIENTISTS AT THE Icelandic biopharma group deCODE Genetics laboratory in Reykjavik have for the past year analyzed each positive coronavirus test in Iceland at the request of the country’s health authorities. All of the around 6,000 COVID-19 cases reported in Iceland have been sequenced. The aim is to trace every case. While the South African variant has not been detected in Iceland, 41 people have been identified as carriers of the British variant. All of them were stopped at the border – where PCR tests are conducted on travelers – effectively preventing the variant’s transmission. Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, professor, University of Eastern Finland 20 NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG PHOTO CHRISTOPHER LUND PHOTO RAIJA TÖRRÖNEN/UEF