DSO and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, have jointly bioengineered antibodies that can recognise and protect against the H5N1 virus. These antibodies are ‘humanised’, with both human and mouse antibody fragments, rendering them less likely to be rejected by the human immune system than pure mouse antibodies.

Mice injected with the antibody prior to exposing them to the H5N1 virus were completely protected from infection - thus highlighting its potential as an effective preventive drug. Higher doses were effective against the disease even after infection. DSO is currently exploring the feasibility of producing these antibodies for clinical use.

In line with the region’s continual efforts in battling the dengue virus, DSO National Laboratories joined the Singapore Dengue Consortium (SDC) in 2007.

DSO’s research into dengue supports our research in immunology to understand how different human immune systems respond to severe diseases.

By leveraging on this knowledge, we can then devise strategies to prevent adverse reactions to such infections. Immunology is part of DSO’s biological defence programme to safeguard Singapore’s national security against biological attacks.