UNAIR NEWS – Covid-19 pandemic is not over yet eventhough the public activity restriction (PPKM) is removed, virus transmission and mutation still happen as of today. Researchers continue their effort to find the right formula to face deal with the virus.
Dr Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori SSi Msi, a young doctor from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) also make the same effort through his dissertation that was defended in an open exam session on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
Benefits of the vaccine
The immunotherapeutic vaccine based on dendritic cell has been developed from his doctoral program dissertation. This vaccine offers some benefits.
“This vaccine offers some benefits such as being halal certified, responded faster by human immunity, do not require adjuvant, no resistance from the body, and minimum side effects,” explained the doctor born on February 3, 1994.
Arif said that this vaccine offers more benefits compared to other type of vaccines. “The other vaccines have some drawbacks, such as severe side effects, resisted by the body, and halal aspect which cannot be met,” stated Arif.
Research beginning
His research was started when first Covid-19 entered the country in March 2020. Arif and his team from Professor Nidom Foundation conducted an analysis on Covid-19 virus. His dissertation research was focused on protein S or spike.
The acquired protein was then mapped using in silico and in vitro methods and resulted in the best protein for immune response. The research was alsso published in Scopus indexed scientific journals in 2020 and 2021either Q2 or Q1 journals.
Research challenges
During his research, he faced some challenges regarding funding and supporting facilities. However, with full support from Professor Nidom Foundation, and research funding from Master to Doctoral Education Scholarship Program (PMDSU) of Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, he could finish the research well.
Research follow-up
Arif’s research can be the construction base of S protein which is used in the making of immunotherapeutic vaccine based on dendritic cell.
“This research result can support Indonesia’s independence, without dependening on other country for protein S availability,” explained the graduate of UNAIR Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The research result, the vaccine, can still be developed further, not only as references or published scientific works. “Hopefully, the vaccine can be used by wider community in Indonesia as it has more benefits compared to other vaccines, such as on halal aspect and the less side effects,” he concluded. (*)
Author: Icha Nur Imami Puspita
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
