Universal Vaccines for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Viruses
Abstract
Rationale, Scientific Objective, and Aims of the Project: Tick-borne encephalitis viruses are serious emerging pathogens with minimal options for treatment and prevention. These viruses are scattered throughout the world and are very distantly related antigenically. Our overall goal is to generate vaccines that may provide universal protection against all known (and unknown) tick-borne encephalitis viruses. To accomplish this, we will use a state-of-the-art modelling approach to predict the common ancestors of these viruses and use them as vaccines. Our hypothesis is that these antigens may perform well as universal vaccines to prevent a wide range of tick-borne viral infections with one vaccination. We have three aims. The first is to design ancestral antigens and make them into candidate vaccines. The second is to vaccinate mice and determine how well they stimulate antibody- and cell mediated-immune responses. Finally, our third aim will assess protection against four dangerous viruses within the tick-borne encephalitis serogroup. This proposed project focuses on the Prevention Focus Area of the Fiscal Year 2021 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program. Applicability of the Research Impact: The goal of any vaccine is to prevent severe disease associated with infection. Our experiments are designed to align with this goal. Viral infections, in particular, are excellent targets for vaccines due to the lack of effective therapies and the severity of infection. Our approach is particularly relevant to the military because Warfighters and other personnel may be deployed in far-flung locales where an extraordinary diversity of ticks and tick-borne viruses may be present. In addition, new and undescribed viruses continue to emerge. This represents a second aspect of the impact of our project, which is that it is a very different way to think about vaccine design. To our knowledge, nothing similar to what we propose here has been attempted in exactly the way that we propose to do as part of this proposal. Clinical Applications: Vaccines are clinically helpful means to prevent infection and/or minimize disease severity. Our project is thus quite clinically applicable. Time Until Patient-Related Outcome: Clinical trials could begin within 5 years. Advancing the Field of Lyme Disease or Other Tick-Related Infectious Disease Research. Our project does not address Lyme disease. Rather, it addresses viral infections that are frequently maintained in the same transmission cycles as the agent of Lyme disease. These viruses are widespread, cause significant morbidity and mortality, and are emerging. Advancing new vaccine strategies is significant and impactful in this context.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210905
Entities
People
- Gregory Ebel
Organizations
- Colorado State University
- United States Army