Klingenstädter
Well-Known Member
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1654796.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1654796.htm
Radiation vaccination may be possible, say scientists
Scientists in the United States say it may soon be possible to vaccinate emergency workers against the effects of a nuclear explosion.
The researchers have found that a form of gene therapy appears to protect mice from the effects of exposure to radiation.
Ever since the September 11 attacks on the United States, there have been growing concerns that terrorists may attempt to explode a crude nuclear device, called a "dirty bomb".
Experts say that such a bomb, made up of nuclear waste wrapped around a conventional explosive, could disperse large amounts of radiation over a city area and that significant numbers of people would die within 30 says of exposure.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have been trying to develop a treatment that would protect emergency workers and others who respond to the scene of such an explosion.
In experiments with mice they used a tiny artificial sac to deliver a protective compound to every cell.
Twenty-four hours later the mice were exposed to doses of whole body radiation.
Those that had been given the gene therapy survived.
-BBC
Radiation vaccination may be possible, say scientists
Scientists in the United States say it may soon be possible to vaccinate emergency workers against the effects of a nuclear explosion.
The researchers have found that a form of gene therapy appears to protect mice from the effects of exposure to radiation.
Ever since the September 11 attacks on the United States, there have been growing concerns that terrorists may attempt to explode a crude nuclear device, called a "dirty bomb".
Experts say that such a bomb, made up of nuclear waste wrapped around a conventional explosive, could disperse large amounts of radiation over a city area and that significant numbers of people would die within 30 says of exposure.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have been trying to develop a treatment that would protect emergency workers and others who respond to the scene of such an explosion.
In experiments with mice they used a tiny artificial sac to deliver a protective compound to every cell.
Twenty-four hours later the mice were exposed to doses of whole body radiation.
Those that had been given the gene therapy survived.
-BBC