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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Development and characterization of candidate rotavirus vaccine strains derived from children with diarrhoea in
Le T Luan1, Nguyen V Trang, Nguyen M Phuong
1Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC), 135 Loduc Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Viet Nam. luanpolyvac@gmail.com
Insights
Vietnam is developing its own rotavirus vaccine to prevent diarrhoea in young children. This initiative aims for self-sufficiency in vaccine production, using locally isolated rotavirus strains for a new G1P[8] vaccine.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Rotavirus infection is a leading cause of hospitalization for diarrhoea in Vietnamese children under five.
- Introducing new vaccines into Vietnam's immunization schedule presents challenges for developing countries.
- Vietnam aims for partial self-sufficiency in vaccine production through domestic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the isolation and characterization of three human rotavirus strains from Vietnamese children.
- To identify candidate strains for developing a Vietnamese rotavirus vaccine.
- To support the development of a monovalent G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine using a Vietnamese-derived strain.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of human rotavirus strains from children with diarrhoea in Vietnam.
- Characterization of the isolated rotavirus strains.
- Multiple passages in cell culture for natural attenuation of candidate strains.
Main Results:
- Three human rotavirus strains were successfully isolated and characterized.
- These strains are considered candidates for further rotavirus vaccine development in Vietnam.
- The study outlines a strategy for a monovalent G1P[8] vaccine using a Vietnamese isolate.
Conclusions:
- Vietnam is actively pursuing the development of indigenous rotavirus vaccine candidates.
- The project aims to achieve greater self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
- Lessons learned will improve overall vaccine manufacturing quality, including the use of Vero cell techniques for other vaccines.
Abstract:
In Vietnam, rotavirus infection accounts for more than one-half of all hospitalizations for diarrhoea among children less than 5 years of age. While new vaccines to prevent rotavirus diarrhoea have been developed and introduced into some countries by multinational manufacturers, the ability for developing countries such as Vietnam to introduce several new and important vaccines into the routine infant immunization schedule may be challenging. In order to be partially self-sufficient in vaccine production, Vietnam has pursued the development of several rotavirus strains as candidate vaccines using isolates obtained from Vietnamese children with diarrhoea. This paper describes the origin, isolation and characterization of 3 human rotavirus strains being considered for further vaccine development in Vietnam. The goal is to prepare a monovalent G1P [8] rotavirus vaccine using one of these strains obtained in Vietnam and naturally attenuated by multiple passages in cell culture. While this is an ambitious project that will require several years' work, we are using the lessons learned to improve the overall quality of vaccine production including the use of Vero cell techniques for the manufacture of other vaccines in Vietnam.
