HCV NUCLEIC ACID VACCINE STUDIES IN CHIMPANZEES

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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. Funding source: NIDDK contract 269-MK-609143 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease and its estimated that more than 200 million people are infected world wide. Approximately 70 % of the persons exposed to HCV develop persistent infection and chronic hepatitis and approximately 20% of the chronically mfected persons develop cirrhosis and about 5% with cirrhosis develop end stage liver cancer. There is no effective vaccine for the prevention of infection or for immunotherapy in conjunction with antiviral therapy. Therefore, it is important to investigate vaccine strategies for prevention and immunotherapy of HCV infection. In this project, we are investigating a novel vaccine strategy in the chimpanzee model to determine its efficacy in preventing infection. Outcome from this study is expected to provide critical information for the development of a safe and effective vaccine for humans.