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Virologists at the University of Nottingham have discovered some parts of the novel coronavirus that they believe may create an immune response and prevent future infection.

Nottingham's universities will be lending their expertise in the race to develop an effective and safe vaccine for the Covid-19 virus in the coming months.

Experts from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University will be assisting Scancell Holdings Plc, which develops immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

The company will be adapting its cancer vaccine to develop a new vaccine to prevent future infection by the novel coronavirus, which causes covid-19.

The University of Nottingham's centre for research on global virus infections and the virologists working there have already identified sections of the coronavirus they hope will create an immune response.

This information is now being used by Scancell to design a DNA-based vaccine which will be safely delivered into humans, whose bodies will then produce antibodies and T cells to kill the virus.

Nottingham Trent University's John van Geest cancer research centre will then be used to screen this vaccine and determine its ability to trigger an immune response.

The project is being led by professor Lindy Durrant, who is the chief scientific officer at Scancell and professor of cancer immunotherapy at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with professor Jonathan Ball and other colleagues in the centre for global virus infections and the new Biodiscovery Institute at the University of Nottingham, and the John van Geest Cancer research centre at Nottingham Trent University.

Professor Durrant said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, Scancell has been evaluating how it can best contribute its expertise and resources to help in the global response.

"Vaccines are the long-term solution and we believe our combined high avidity T cell and neutralising antibody approach has the potential to produce a second-generation vaccine that will generate an effective and durable immune response to COVID-19."

Scancell has previously had success with its ImmunoBody cancer vaccine in treating patients with malignant melanoma.

The DNA vaccine will target two proteins in the virus that caused covid-19, SARS-CoV-2.

These will be the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which comprises the vast majority of the virus cell, and the surface 'spike' (S) protein, which allows the virus to gain entry into a human cell.

It is hoped the N protein part of the vaccine will stimulate cells to recognise and kill virus-infected human cells.

The N protein is present in many different strains of the coronaviruses, and experts believe the vaccine may even protect people against any new strains that may arise in the future.

Professor Jonathan Ball, director of the centre for research on global virus infections at the University of Nottingham, said: “Focusing the antibody responses on the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus should ensure the generation of high-titre antibodies that prevent infection.

"A similar DNA vaccine has already been shown to be safe and effective in cancer patients and so should rapidly translate into the clinic for prevention of COVID-19.”

(Image: PA)

Nottingham's two universities have already been singled out for praise during a Government briefing on April 19.

When questioned by Nottinghamshire Live reporter Kit Sandeman on PPE levels, education secretary Gavin Williamson said: "The city of Nottingham really goes to shine a light on what an important role higher education institutions play in terms of our battle with the coronavirus."

Speaking of the work being done by the city in the fight against the virus, Professor Nigel Wright, deputy vice-chancellor, research and innovation, at Nottingham Trent University, added: “Nottingham Trent University and the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre are delighted to support Scancell’s endeavours to develop an effective vaccine for COVID-19.

"These are clearly challenging times and significant progress in the development of new approaches for protecting against this virus will only be possible by collaborations such as these.”