DETERMINATION OF PROPHYLACTIC EFFICACY OF VARIOUS HEPATITS C VIRUS VACCINES

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. There is an urgent medical need for a preventive HCV vaccine. HCV infection occurs commonly around the globe as a result of parenteral exposure to the virus. In developed countries, the most common risk factor is sharing of needles amongst iv drug users. Other ¿at-risk¿ groups include babies born to positive mothers, individuals with frequent and multiple heterosexual partners, health-care workers, individuals with an infected family member, and hemodialysis patients. In the USA, the CDC has estimated that there are roughly 30,000 new infections annually. In developing countries, the same risk factors are evident but in addition, non-sterile medical injection practices have contributed hugely and tragically to the current disease burden. Cultural practices involving parenteral exposure to the virus are also thought to play an important role in transmission in the developing world. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a prophylactic vaccine. We intend to test efficacy against a delayed challenge with a heterologous HCV strain. Several candidate vaccines will be tested in groups of 5 chimpanzees for the elicitation of humoral and cellular immune responses to HCV. The demonstration of significant immunogenicity will then lead to challenge of vaccines with a heterologous 1a HCV strain. This study is in progress. Results will be proprietary. Future directions will be determined by the commercial spo