Design of fusion inhibitors to block measles host-to-host infection

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Measles (MeV) causes disease worldwide despite efforts towards eradication by vaccine, largely because it is spread so readily between people. Acute MeV infection causes immune amnesia, resulting in increased susceptibility to other infectious diseases. In addition, rare but severe neurological complications can develop several years after measles due to persistent MeV infection of the central nervous system. People with impaired cellular immunity are at increased risk of developing severe measles, but often cannot be vaccinated since the vaccine virus itself can lead to fatal illness. There is no specific therapy for acute or persistent MeV manifestations. A successful vaccination campaign could have eradicated MeV more than 20 years ago. As today, mainly due to social issue (e.g., antivaxxer movement), eradication is not in sight. The recent resurgence of measles in the U.S. highlights the need of effective measure to prevent host-to-host transmission at the moment of the outbreak surge. We have applied the results of fundamental research to develop a new antiviral strategy for MeV, based on inhibiting membrane fusion during MeV entry. This application will test whether our antiviral approach prevents inter-host transmission and therefore fill this medical demand. Our strategy is based MeV fusion inhibitors (i.e., lipid conjugated peptides) that self-assemble in stable nanoparticles until they reach the target cells were, they integrated into the cell membrane. We have recently shown that this strategy works effectively for SARS-CoV-2. We propose to chemical engineer these inhibitors to optimize 1) the antiviral potency, 2) the conditions under which the peptides self-assemble, 3) the insertion on the target cell membrane, and 5) in vivo biodistribution. Our work will be tested in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo using a natural model of morbillivirus infection (Canine Distemper Virus -CDV- in Ferrets). 1. To use protein engineering to optimize the self-assembling properties and antiviral potency of HRC-peptide fusion inhibitors. 2. To evaluate the protection afforded by HRC peptide fusion inhibitors against CDV infection in vivo and provide proof of concept for pre-clinical development.