Cholera vaccine

The role of plasmid in the regulation of toxin biosynthesis, virulence factors, novel adhesive and colonisation factors of Vibrio cholerae have been demonstrated. A new subunit vaccine based on these colonisation antigens is being developed.

An anti-leprosy vaccine developed using Mycobacterium habana antigen could not be taken to phase II and III trials because other two anti-leprosy vaccines developed in the country were showing equally promising protection. The same strain of M. habana is being evaluated as anti-TB vaccine, as an alternative to BCG.