Horse Antibodies may Treat Bird flu

[Angel]

Chinese researchers found a potential new treatment for the deadly bird flu.

Recent animal studies show antibodies to the H5N1 virus taken from horses are effective in keeping mice infected with the virus from dying.

The study began when researchers exposed kidney cells from dogs infected with the virus to the equine (horse) antibodies. The horses developed the antibodies after being vaccinated with inactivated H5N1 vaccine. Results illustrated the equine antibodies were capable of protecting the cells from the lethal doses of the virus.

Investigators then tested two different doses of the antibodies in mice that were injected with lethal doses of the virus 24 hours earlier. Some of the mice received the antibodies, while the rest received normal equine serum and served as controls.

Seventy percent of the mice that received the lower dose of the antibodies were protected from death. One hundred percent of those that received the higher dose were protected. Conversely, all of the mice treated with normal equine serum died about nine hours later.

"Our work has provided experimental support for the application of the therapeutic equine immunoglobulin in future large primate or human trials," study authors say.