PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Breakthrough results from elephant herpesvirus trial find vaccine to be safe

2025-10-03
(Press-News.org) The world’s first vaccine trial against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) – a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants – is safe and triggers a strong virus-fighting immune response, according to an international team led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with Chester Zoo and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. 

Published in Nature Communications, the proof‑of‑concept study involved adult elephants at Chester Zoo. No side effects were seen, and the vaccine successfully activated a key part of the immune system that helps fight viruses. 

The elephants received a two‑step vaccination: first, a viral vector carrying two EEHV proteins (EE2 and major capsid protein), then a booster with purified proteins plus an adjuvant to strengthen the response. Blood samples were tested in various ways, including using whole transcriptome sequencing to see which immune pathways were switched on – the first time such systematic immune profiling has been carried out in elephants. 

The results suggest the vaccine could prevent deadly EEHV disease in calves – the group most at risk – and support conservation breeding programmes worldwide. 

Professor Falko Steinbach, senior author of the study and Professor of Veterinary Immunology at the University of Surrey, said: 

“This is a landmark moment in our work to develop safe and efficacious vaccines. For the first time, we have shown in elephants that a vaccine can trigger the type of immune response needed to protect them against EEHV.”  

Dr Tanja Maehr, lead author of the study from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said: 

“Our findings give real hope that vaccination can become a practical tool for preventing severe disease and death due to EEHV. The next step could be to trial the vaccine in calves and in range countries, so we can begin to protect those most at risk.” 

The vaccine particularly activated two key types of immune cells – CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (often called “helper” and “killer” cells) – that mediate the immune system’s fight against viruses. Systems immunology analysis – carried out in partnership between the University of Surrey and São Paulo – confirmed the broad activation of anti-viral immunity.  

These findings show that a two‑step vaccine can safely inform the elephant's immune system to fight EEHV.  

Dr Katie Edwards, Lead Conservation Scientist at Chester Zoo, said:  

“This vaccine has been in development for several years and was first delivered to an elephant here at Chester Zoo in 2021. This publication marks a watershed moment.   

“EEHV has taken the lives of so many elephants, both in human care and in the wild, but this vaccine offers hope. We can’t yet say this will be the end of EEHV deaths, but we have taken a massive step towards that goal.”  

[ENDS] 

Notes to editors 

Professor Falko Steinbach is available for an interview; please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk to arrange. 

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Final step in the biosynthesis of iridoids elucidated

2025-10-03
Iridoids are a widespread and evolutionarily ancient class of plant secondary metabolites belonging to the terpenes. They occur in thousands of plant species and play an important role in defense and other interactions between plants and their environment. Iridoids are also found in foods such as olives and blueberries, and are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also essential precursors for many medically important compounds, including the cancer drug vinblastine and the ipecacuanha alkaloids found in the medicinal plants, sage-leaved alangium and ipecac root (see press release Two plant species invent the same ...

New antibiotic targets IBD — and AI predicted how it would work before scientists could prove it

2025-10-03
Study highlights: The new antibiotic, enterololin, attacks and kills only a specific group of disease-causing bugs, which includes the type of E. coli that drives Crohn’s disease. As such, the antibiotic is a promising new treatment option for people affected by Crohn’s and other IBD-related conditions. These conditions affect thousands of people across Canada and no cure currently exists. Most antibiotics wipe out everything, including good bacteria. Enterololin, however, works like a scalpel, reducing the opportunity for opportunistic and/or drug-resistant ...

Glioblastomas affect much more than just the brain

2025-10-03
October 3, 2025—BRONX, NY—Scientists at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have shown for the first time that glioblastoma—the deadliest form of brain cancer—affects not just the brain but also erodes the skull, alters the makeup of skull marrow, and interferes with the body’s immune response. Drugs intended to inhibit skull-bone loss made the cancer more aggressive, according to results published today in Nature Neuroscience. “Our discovery that this notoriously hard-to-treat brain cancer interacts with the body’s immune ...

Researchers uncover why mental maps fade with age

2025-10-03
In the realm of memories, “where” holds special importance. Where did I leave my keys? Where did I eat dinner last night? Where did I first meet that friend? Recalling locations is necessary for daily life, yet spatial memory — which keeps track of “where” — is one of the first cognitive abilities to fade in old age. And deficits earlier in life can be a telltale sign of dementia. Now, researchers at Stanford Medicine and their colleagues are uncovering what goes awry in older brains when spatial memory falters and whether these changes can be prevented. In a new study comparing young, ...

New mechanism revealed: How leukemia cells trick the immune system

2025-10-03
A research team at Lund University in Sweden has discovered a mechanism that helps acute myeloid leukemia cells to evade the body’s immune system. By developing an antibody that blocks the mechanism, the researchers could restore the immune system’s ability to kill the cancer cells in laboratory trials and in mice. The discovery is published in Nature Cancer. In brief: Facts about the study: peer-reviewed // basic research // translational research // in vivo // in vitro // The study shows how a newly discovered mechanism helps leukemia cells to evade the immune system. By generating ...

Genetic map reveals influence of DNA on metabolism

2025-10-03
A new study, published today in Nature Genetics, created the largest genetic map of human metabolism, revealing new insights on the role of metabolites in health and disease and creating a blueprint for further research. Humans vary from person to person, and so does our metabolism. Yet, it is difficult to quantify precisely how much your genetic code contributes to this variability. Using data from half a million individuals through the UK Biobank, the authors examined the consequences of variation in our genetic code on blood levels of 250 small molecules including lipid levels, which are important for a healthy heart, or amino acids. The study is the result of a collaborative ...

Researchers use ultrasound holograms to influence brain networks

2025-10-03
The first picture taken of a person nowadays is usually an ultrasound scan in the womb. But the technology is capable of much more than that. Physiotherapists have long used ultrasound to heat bodily tissues, and oncological surgeons use high-intensity ultrasound – and the heat it generates inside the body – to destroy tumours.  Over the last decade, scientists have also been researching how low-intensity ultrasound can be used to influence neural activity in the brain in a targeted manner. Initial clinical trials ...

Unique videos show how trawling restrictions brings back life to the sea

2025-10-03
Trawling restrictions not only benefits fish and shellfish; anemones and corals are also becoming more common, according to a new study from the University of Gothenburg. Twenty-six years of underwater videos from the depths of the Koster Sea also show long-term changes in the ecosystem as the water becomes warmer. The marine wildlife in Kosterhavet National Park has changed rapidly in recent years. The introduction of trawling restrictions in the area for the national park during the last 25 years, brought about a change in the living conditions for the animals that live on the seabed. “Animals ...

Whooping cough can be fatal in young infants, experts warn

2025-10-03
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is on the rise and incidence now exceeds pre-pandemic numbers. While in adults and older children the cough can be bothersome and last for months, pertussis in young infants can be life-threatening. Most children under 2 months of age with pertussis in the United States are hospitalized. In a special article published in Pediatrics, experts strongly encourage vaccination, especially during pregnancy. “Pertussis symptoms are different in infants,” said leading author Caitlin Li, MD, infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern ...

Knee-d for excellence: New regional training hub keeps surgeons sharp for ageing population

2025-10-03
Singapore, 3 October 2025 – Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has announced the launch of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for robotic-assisted surgery, ensuring orthopaedic surgeons are equipped with knowledge of emerging technologies as the population ages and surgical needs evolve.    The Centre is established as part of a two-year strategic collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Johnson & Johnson MedTechwith an initial focus on training and research in total knee replacement.   Regional ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Hanbat National University researchers present new technique to boost solid oxide fuel cell performance

Even short school breaks affect student learning unevenly across socioeconomic backgrounds

When words matter: Language and culture shape early childhood outcomes

UBC enzyme technology clears first human test toward universal donor organs for transplantation

Birds’ vocal warnings provide new insight into the origins of language

Breakthrough results from elephant herpesvirus trial find vaccine to be safe

Final step in the biosynthesis of iridoids elucidated

New antibiotic targets IBD — and AI predicted how it would work before scientists could prove it

Glioblastomas affect much more than just the brain

Researchers uncover why mental maps fade with age

New mechanism revealed: How leukemia cells trick the immune system

Genetic map reveals influence of DNA on metabolism

Researchers use ultrasound holograms to influence brain networks

Unique videos show how trawling restrictions brings back life to the sea

Whooping cough can be fatal in young infants, experts warn

Knee-d for excellence: New regional training hub keeps surgeons sharp for ageing population

The Lancet: Billions lack access to healthy diets as food systems drive climate and health crises, but sustainable, equitable solutions are within reach, says new EAT-Lancet report

Countries with highest reported levels of hearing loss have lowest use of hearing aids

Early medical abortion at home up to 12 weeks is safe, effective, and comparable to hospital care

New approach to gravitational wave detection opens the Milli-Hz Frontier

Rice membrane extracts lithium from brines with greater speed, less waste

Exercise lowers disease risk. This researcher wants to understand how

Hurricane evacuation patterns differ based on where the storm hits

Stem Cell Reports welcomes new members to its Editorial Board

Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies

Mayo Clinic awarded up to $40 million by ARPA-H for pioneering air safety research

People with Down syndrome have early neuroinflammation

CNIO researchers create the “human repairome”, a catalogue of DNA “scars” that will help define personalized cancer treatments

Strengthening biosecurity screening for genes that encode proteins of concern

Global wildfire disasters are growing in frequency and cost

[Press-News.org] Breakthrough results from elephant herpesvirus trial find vaccine to be safe