Indian scientists can soon be the proud inventors of a DNA rabies vaccine and an HIV vaccine. Both are expected to be ready for trials on humans and monkeys shortly. DNA vaccine will be ready first for trials, most likely in December.

The Bangalore-based India's premier scientific research centre, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will be releasing a DNA rabies vaccine for commercial trials. The new vaccine is expected to be cheaper and revolutionise rabies treatment.

The HIV vaccine developed by Indian scientists will be tested on monkeys in partnership with a laboratory in the US, where strains of the dreaded human immuno-deficiency virus and the vaccine's test on mice is at an advanced stage. "In six months time, we will experiment with the vaccine on monkeys. Negotiations have already been completed with a laboratory in the US, informed Dr. Manju Sharma, Union secretary (biotechnology) here in Bangalore. "All over the world, researchers are engaged in finding a vaccine against HIV and India is a part of the experiment," she added. The animal trials of DNA rabies vaccine have been completed.

Prof. P N Rangarajan, associate professor, biochemistry department, IISc has worked on combination rabies vaccine (CRV) for the past five years. IISC has now teamed up with the Indian Immunologicals, which is now conducting various trails to scale up and undertake production of the vaccine. But it may be some time before the product enters the market.

The department of biotechnology (DBT) is funding the current tests under Jai Vignan Vaccine Mission, but the funding details were not disclosed.

The IISc team has already filed an international patent under the PCT (Patent Cooperative Treaty) and its International Search Report has confirmed it as a unique vaccine, informed Prof. Rangarajan. "We now have to file for patents in all PCT countries and that could take another year," he said.

Scientists in Karnataka have also made forays in the development of rabies vaccine. Sufficient research is also done by Dr. Ramanjini Gowda, associate professor, department of biotechnology at University College of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in developing rabies vaccine with Tobacco plant first. The research was funded by the Department of Biotechnology and Rs 30 lakh was disbursed for research and development in 1998-99. The vaccine was tested on mice and there was good response. The government is yet to clear the test of vaccine on dogs.

Subsequently using the same technology, Dr. Ramanjini used muskmelon to produce vaccines. The tests are under progress on mice.