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May 2, 2001

“World-First Immunization Trial for Hepatitis B in Adelaide”

Australian Associated Press (aap.com.au) (04/30/01)

In Adelaide, Australia, a hepatitis B immunization trial was launched recently at the Adelaide Royal and Children’s Hospital.  The trial involves an attempt to boost the hepatitis B vaccine using a heat-killed mycobacterium.  According to the hospital’s senior clinical microbiologist, Paul Goldwater, the trials use a bacterium called M. vaccae, which can be found in parts of Africa that have low rates of diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.  The researchers hope to determine whether immunization of hepatitis B carriers would be able to rid the individuals of the disease if they are given the vaccine together with the heat-killed M.  vaccae.  Goldwater noted that approximately 350 million people in the world are chronic carriers of hepatitis B.

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