GSK said it will work with the institute to try to identify a subunit vaccine - made from viral proteins - that would protect against the disease.

The first objective of the programme is to develop immunological tools such as monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific to the SARS virus useful, which can be used to test the potential of a SARS vaccine and to identify the viral proteins that induce the highest immune response.

The second objective will be to introduce genes that encode for different viral proteins in expression vectors developed at Institut Pasteur to produce the relevant antigens.

The immunogenicity of these antigens, which reflects potential vaccine potency, will be assessed in preclinical models using novel GSK Bio adjuvants in an effort to further enhance the immune response.

While SARS has dwindled away in the last few months, there are fears that the infection could re-emerge at a later date. Indeed, there are increasing concerns about the number of novel viruses emerging as pathogens in man, apparently jumping from animal hosts. This ability to jump between species is an unusual feature of the coronavirus family, of which SARS is a member.