Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widespread betaherpesvirus that poses significant health risks, particularly to immunocompromised individuals, transplant recipients, and infants infected congenitally. At our company, we specialize in the development of cutting-edge vaccines and therapies for CMV infection.
Introduction to Cytomegalovirus Infection
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a significant public health concern, particularly affecting immunocompromised individuals and newborns. CMV, a member of the herpesvirus family, is the most commonly transmitted virus in utero, with congenital infection posing a risk of severe neurological deficits and other health complications in infants. In the United States, approximately 0.5% to 0.7% of pregnancies are affected by congenital CMV, with symptomatic cases leading to permanent disabilities such as sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delays.
Fig.1 Single-cell transcriptome analysis of HCMV-infected macrophages. (Schwartz M., et al., 2023)
Vaccine Development for Cytomegalovirus Infection
Subunit Vaccines
Subunit vaccines, such as those based on the CMV glycoprotein B (gB), have shown promise in clinical trials. These vaccines leverage recombinant technology to produce viral proteins that elicit immune responses. The use of adjuvants like MF59 has been instrumental in enhancing the immunogenicity of these vaccines, as demonstrated in phase II trials.
Nucleic acid Vaccines
Nucleic acid vaccines, including plasmid DNA and self-amplifying RNA vaccines, represent a modern approach to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses. These vaccines encode CMV antigens, allowing for the expression of viral proteins within host cells and the subsequent stimulation of immune responses.
Vectored Vaccines
Vectored vaccines utilize viral vectors, such as modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) or alphavirus replicon particles, to deliver CMV antigens. These vaccines have shown the ability to induce robust cellular and humoral responses, with some candidates progressing to phase I and II clinical trials.
Live Attenuated and DISC Vaccines
Live attenuated vaccines, like the Towne strain, and disabled infectious single-cycle (DISC) vaccines, such as the V160 candidate, offer the potential for mimicry of natural immunity. These vaccines are designed to replicate to a limited extent, providing a robust immune response without causing disease.
Therapeutics Development for Cytomegalovirus Infection
The development of antiviral drugs for CMV has focused on several strategies, including the inhibition of essential viral enzymes and the targeting of viral entry and replication..
Drugs like ganciclovir and its prodrug valganciclovir have been mainstays of CMV therapy. These nucleoside analogs inhibit the CMV DNA polymerase, demonstrating efficacy in both prophylaxis and therapeutics.
Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors
Non-nucleoside inhibitors, such as maribavir and letermovir, target different aspects of the viral replication machinery, including the UL97 kinase and the terminase complex, respectively.
Our Services
Standing at the forefront of CMV vaccine and therapy development, our company pioneers the utilization of cutting-edge scientific research to conceive and implement groundbreaking solutions aimed at addressing the challenges posed by Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Disease Models
- Rhesus Macaque CMV (RhCMV) Models
- Guinea Pig CMV (GPCMV) Modes
- Murine CMV (mCMV) Models
- Humanized Mouse Models
- NHP (Non-Human Primate) Models
Preclinical research is a cornerstone of our development pipeline. We conduct rigorous in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaccine and drug candidates. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Schwartz, Michal, et al. "Molecular characterization of human cytomegalovirus infection with single-cell transcriptomics." Nature microbiology 8.3 (2023): 455-468.
- Britt, William J., and Mark N. Prichard. "New therapies for human cytomegalovirus infections." Antiviral research 159 (2018): 153-174.
- Anderholm, K. M., Craig J. Bierle, and Mark R. Schleiss. "Cytomegalovirus vaccines: current status and future prospects." Drugs 76 (2016): 1625-1645.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
