智利科學家研發世界首例酒癮疫苗

智利大學的研究人員已研製出世界首例酒癮疫苗。這種疫苗注射入體內後，酒癮患者淺酌一口便能立即產生心跳加速、噁心等宿醉症狀，令其痛苦不堪。研究人員表示，將從2月起用該疫苗在老鼠身上進行臨牀前試驗，人體試驗將在11月進行。據介紹，該疫苗在體內有效期至少爲6個月，且注射後產生的反應無法人爲消除。研究人員預計，注射疫苗後，當地的酒類消費量有望下降90%。世界衛生組織2011年的數據顯示，酒精是世界第三大致病和致殘危險因素，每年因酗酒導致的死亡人數爲250萬。

While past research has proffered potential treatments for alcoholism, scientists have yet to develop a working vaccine to treat the maladaptive pattern of drinking.

However, that may all change if researchers at the University of Chile are successful. In February, a team of scientists is set to begin preclinical trials for the world's first alcoholism vaccine, the Santiago Times reports.

The vaccine delivers somewhat of an instant hangover if the patient takes one sip of alcohol. Researchers will first test the vaccine on mice; human trials are set for November.

"If it works, it's going to have a worldwide impact, but with many vaccines one has to test them carefully." Dr. Juan Asenjo, director of the university's Institute for Cell Dynamics and Biotechnology, told the Santiago Times. "I think the chances that this one will work are quite high."

In the body, alcohol is metabolized by first being broken down into the toxic acetaldehyde, which is then turned into acetate. However, when the second stage takes longer -- as is the case for some people -- acetaldehyde builds up in the body, resulting in symptoms typical of a hangover, such as rapid pulse, sweating and nausea.

When injected, the vaccine would work by sending a message to the liver to keep it from expressing these genes the metabolize alcohol, thus producing symptoms characteristic of a "medically induced hangover of epic proportions," FoodBeast writes.

Delivered in a single injection, the vaccine is expected to remain active in a patient's system for at least six months, and it cannot be reversed, according to the Santiago Times.

"With the vaccine, the desire to consume alcohol will be greatly reduced thanks to these reactions," Asenjo told Radio Cooperativa, according to the Agence France-Presse.

Asenjo and his team first revealed their intentions to develop an alcoholism vaccine in January 2011, the APF notes. At the time, the genetic therapy, which targets the enzymes that metabolize alcohol, was found to cut dependent rats' consumption of alcohol in half.

However, according to the report, Asenjo had higher aspirations for the vaccine's effect on humans, hoping the serum would reduce alcohol consumption by at least 90 percent.

Alcoholism carries a number of significant risk factors such as the potential for damage to the liver or other vital organs, the National Institutes of Health notes.

According to the World Health Organization's 2011 global status report, alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability, and the harmful use of the substance leads to 2.5 million deaths annually.