Vaccination News Home Page                                            subscribe Vaccination NewsLetter

http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/158446|oddlyenough|04-07-2003::10:49|reuters.html

New Mousetrap Invented with Herpes Virus

Apr 7, 10:42 am ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia, regularly hit by the worst mouse plagues in the world, is claiming an international first with a genetically modified herpes virus to knock out population explosions of the small rodent.

The government-backed Co-operative Research Center (CRC) for Biological Control of Pest Animals has produced a genetically modified herpes virus that makes sexually prolific female mice infertile, by blocking sperm from entering their eggs.

"We know it works in a shoe box-level experimental setting. Now we want to try it in a field setting," CRC director Tony Peacock told Reuters on Monday.

The CRC is applying to Australia's watchdog on transgenic applications, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, for permission to trial the herpes virus in sample populations of mice, in rodent-proof pens.

The disease can only be spread by mouse-to-mouse contact, after inoculation of rodents with gene-spliced material containing the modified virus.

Rigorous testing to prove the virus is "species specific" -- which means that it cannot be transferred to other animals or humans -- will be required before expected full release in three years.

The main beneficiary of the virus would be Australian farmers, who grow one of the world's biggest grain export crops.

Vaccination News Home Page

 

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.