Developing effective vaccines and therapeutics against enterovirus infections is a complex but critical undertaking. By leveraging the latest scientific advances and strategic approaches, our company is able to provide expert vaccine and therapeutic development solutions to global pharmaceutical companies.
Introduction to Enterovirus Infection
Enteroviruses are a diverse group of non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family. They encompass over 70 serotypes, including well-known pathogens such as poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and enterovirus D68. Enteroviruses are primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route and respiratory droplets, leading to a range of clinical manifestations that can vary from mild respiratory illnesses to severe conditions such as aseptic meningitis, myocarditis, and acute flaccid paralysis.
Neonates and young children are particularly susceptible to severe enterovirus infections, which can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The absence of maternal antibodies against specific serotypes, alongside factors such as premature delivery, increases vulnerability during the first weeks of life.
Fig.1 Cellular miRNAs are involved in Enterovirus infection-induced apoptosis. (Ho B.C., et al., 2016)
Vaccine Development for Enterovirus Infection
The development of vaccines for enterovirus infections has predominantly focused on poliovirus due to its historical impact on public health. The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) have been instrumental in reducing the incidence of poliomyelitis globally. However, the development of vaccines targeting other enteroviruses, such as enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), remains a critical area of research.
Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) Vaccines
Several candidate vaccines have entered clinical trials, including inactivated and live-attenuated formulations. A notable example is the EV-A71 vaccine developed in China, which has shown promise in Phase III trials, demonstrating efficacy in preventing hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) caused by this virus.
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) Vaccines
The sporadic outbreaks associated with EV-D68, particularly in pediatric populations, highlight the urgent need for a vaccine. Currently, research is ongoing to explore both inactivated and live-attenuated vaccine candidates, with a focus on eliciting robust immune responses that provide cross-protection against various enterovirus serotypes.
Therapeutics Development for Enterovirus Infection
Direct-Acting Antivirals
Direct-acting antiviral drugs target specific viral components, such as viral polymerases or proteases. For instance, compounds like pleconaril and pocapavir have been developed to inhibit uncoating of enteroviruses, thereby preventing viral replication. These drugs have shown efficacy in clinical trials, particularly in treating enterovirus meningitis.
Host-Targeting Inhibitors
Host-targeting inhibitors focus on cellular factors that are essential for viral replication. By targeting host proteins, these inhibitors can potentially have a broad-spectrum effect against multiple enterovirus serotypes. Examples include drugs that target the host's phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase III beta (PI4KB), which is involved in the formation of replication organelles.
Our Services
Within our organization, a wide range of specialized services is available for the development of vaccines and therapies designed to combat the complexities associated with enterovirus infections. Our dedicated team of experts is committed to providing tailored solutions to address the unique challenges posed by these viral infections.
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Disease Models
- Neonatal Mouse (Swiss-Webster, ICR, C57BL/6, BALB/c, KunMing, NIH) Infection Models
- Mouse-adapted EV-D68 Strains Infection Models
- Ferrets Intranasal Inoculation Prototype EV-D68 Fermon Strain Models
- Transgenic Mouse Models: Mice expressing human PSGL-1 or SCARB2
Our facilities are equipped to conduct a range of assays to evaluate the antiviral activity, cytotoxicity, and pharmacokinetics of candidate drugs in cellular and animal models. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to
contact us.
Reference
- Ho, Bing-Ching, Pan-Chyr Yang, and Sung-Liang Yu. "MicroRNA and pathogenesis of enterovirus infection." Viruses 8.1 (2016): 11.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
