S.04. Japanese encephalitis: development of an improved vaccine
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis, commonly known as brain fever is caused by a flavivirus named Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is transmitted to human beings by mosquitoes. The disease appears mostly in the epidemic form that is being reported regularly from various parts of India. A mouse brain-derived, formalin-inactivated JEV vaccine is available which induces protective immunity of uncertain duration in the recipients. Besides, the vaccine has some side effects and is expensive. Efforts are being made to produce an improved vaccine against JEV using alternate strategies. The talk will focus on our efforts in this direction.
