IPN Advances Steadily in Experimental Vaccine and Viral Vector Research

• The National Vaccinology and Tropical Viruses Laboratory, equipped with high-containment biological infrastructure, has strengthened research and the training of top-tier professionals.

• It features various research lines focused on developing experimental vaccines and viral vectors while studying viruses transmitted by arthropods (insects, arachnids, and crustaceans).

Leveraging its state-of-the-art facilities, the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) is making significant strides in developing experimental vaccines and studying tropical viruses responsible for diseases of medical importance in Mexico, according to Jesús Miguel Torres Flores, a researcher at the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB).

As the Biosafety Officer for the LNVyVT, inaugurated two years ago, Torres emphasized that the high-containment biological facilities (BSL-2/BSL-3) enable the IPN to research high-risk viruses.

Supported by doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, the laboratory’s experts are working on various research lines, including the development of adenovirus-based potential vaccines for diseases like chikungunya and malaria.

Simultaneously, other projects focus on using viruses to develop vaccine vectors, which act as vehicles to deliver genetic information from the pathogen to the host organism for immunization purposes. “The goal is to create readily available vectors for emergency use,” explained Torres, who is a Level I member of the National System of Researchers (SNII) under the National Council for Humanities, Science, and Technology (Conahcyt), which is soon to transition to the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Secihti).

Torres highlighted the IPN’s leadership in viral vector development, noting the challenge and innovation involved in creating vectors from newly discovered viruses circulating in Mexico. “We currently have promising results that we will soon publish in high-impact international scientific journals,” he added.

Dr. Torres emphasized that, in addition to the expertise of scientists in the field of Microbiology, institutional support has been crucial for achieving significant advancements in a short time. This progress stems from authorities’ awareness and commitment to promoting research aimed at protecting the health of the Mexican population.

He noted that the high-containment biological facilities of the laboratory, which is part of the National Quality Laboratories Program of Conahcyt, provide a distinct advantage for Politécnico. Such facilities are rare in Mexico and are typically dedicated to tuberculosis research.

The National Laboratory has strengthened the training of top-tier professionals by involving highly committed and passionate young researchers in cutting-edge science. Currently, five doctoral and eight master’s students are conducting thesis research, alongside undergraduates from programs such as Chemical Bacteriologist Parasitologist, Pharmaceutical Chemist, and Biology, who are also working on their degree projects.

The Politécnico scientist highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance quality further. These include obtaining international certifications and accreditations, such as those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), for the Quality Management System being implemented in the laboratory.

Two years since its establishment, the National Laboratory is well-positioned to become a national benchmark in developing experimental vaccines and studying tropical viruses that cause significant diseases in Mexico, particularly in the southeastern region.