Vaccination Against West Nile Virus

该项目的总体目标是研制一种商业上可行的预防西尼罗河病毒感染的疫苗。西尼罗河病毒于1999年首次在西半球被分离出来，当时有7名纽约患者死于西尼罗河病毒爆发。该病毒目前仍存在于北美。疫苗将是其他公共卫生措施的重要补充，特别是如果这种新出现的病原体在北美流行的话。该项目的第一阶段将研究基于美国西尼罗河病毒分离株包膜蛋白的免疫原。迄今为止，我们已经制备了重组蛋白和合成肽抗原，并已开始初步免疫研究。在I期，小鼠将接种这些抗原，评价抗体应答，并研究保护性免疫。所述抗原也可适用于血清诊断试验。第二阶段实验将进一步开发候选疫苗，并包括在蚊子传播感染的鼠模型中证明效力。该项目将为临床医生和公共卫生官员提供管理西尼罗河病毒爆发的重要手段。拟议的商业应用：我们的主要目标是将西尼罗河病毒疫苗商业化，以防止可能致命的西尼罗河病毒感染。这种病毒可能需要3到5年的时间才能在北美湿地和城市生态系统中站稳脚跟，使大量美国公民处于危险之中。重要的是现在就开始疫苗开发，以便我们为未来的病毒爆发做好准备。拟议研究的一个潜在商业副产品是血清诊断ELISA，以帮助医生评估西尼罗河病毒感染的疑似病例。兽用疫苗也存在商业机会。

A commercially viable vaccine for the prevention of West Nile virus infection is the overall objective of this project. West Nile virus was isolated for the first time in the Western hemisphere in 1999, when seven New York patients died as a result of a West Nile virus outbreak. The virus is still present in North America. A vaccine will be an important complement to other public health measures, particularly if this emerging pathogen becomes endemic in North America. Phase I of the project will study immunogens based on the envelope protein of a U.S. West Nile virus isolate. To date, we have prepared recombinant protein and synthetic peptide antigens, and have initiated preliminary immunization studies. In Phase I, mice will be vaccinated with these antigens, antibody responses will be evaluated, and protective immunity investigated. The antigens may also be suitable for serodiagnostic tests. Phase II experiments will further develop vaccine candidates, and include demonstration of efficacy in a murine model of mosquito- transmitted infection. This project will provide clinicians and public health officials with important means of managing outbreaks of West Nile virus. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Our primary goal is to commercialize a West Nile Virus vaccine to protect against potentially fatal West Nile virus infection. It may take 3 to 5 years for the virus establish itself in North American wetland and urban ecosystems, putting significant numbers of U.S. citizens at risk. It is important to initiate vaccine development now, so that we are prepared for future outbreaks of the virus. A potential commercial by- product of the proposed research is a serodiagnostic ELISA to aid physicians in evaluating suspected cases of West Nile virus infection. Commercial opportunities for veterinary vaccines also exist.