Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly dangerous paramyxovirus that first emerged in Malaysia in 1998. Through our comprehensive range of services, we are dedicated to advancing the field of NiV vaccine and therapeutic development, with the ultimate goal of accelerating research and development for pharmaceutical companies around the world.
Introduction to Nipah Virus Infection
Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus that has garnered significant attention due to its potential to cause severe and often fatal encephalitis in humans. First identified in Malaysia in 1998, NiV has since been responsible for sporadic outbreaks across South and Southeast Asia. The virus is known for its ability to cause a range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic infections to severe respiratory and neurological diseases, with case fatality rates as high as 75%.
Fig.1 Taxonomy of Nipah virus and its transmission. (Mishra G., et al., 2024)
Vaccine Development for Nipah Virus Infection
- Subunit Vaccines
Subunit vaccines have shown promise in preclinical models. These vaccines utilize specific viral proteins, such as the glycoprotein (G) or fusion (F) protein, to stimulate an immune response. One example is the soluble G glycoprotein (sG) vaccine, which has been shown to elicit neutralizing antibodies and provide protection in animal models, including hamsters and African green monkeys.
- Viral Vector-Based Vaccines
Viral vector-based vaccines use a harmless virus to carry genes encoding NiV proteins. Examples include vaccines using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), measles virus (MV), and adeno-associated virus (AAV) as vectors. These vaccines have demonstrated the ability to induce robust immune responses and provide complete protection against lethal NiV challenges in animal models.
- mRNA Vaccines
The advent of mRNA vaccine technology has opened new avenues for NiV vaccine development. mRNA vaccines, such as those being developed for COVID-19, have the potential to rapidly produce viral proteins and elicit a potent immune response. Preclinical studies have shown that mRNA encoding NiV antigens can induce neutralizing antibodies and provide protection in animal models.
Table 1 Development status of Nipah virus infection vaccine candidates. (Satterfield B A., 2016)
| Candidate name/identifier: institution |
Status |
Developers |
| Subunit vaccine |
| HeV sG |
Preclinical |
Zoetis, Inc./USU |
| Vectored vaccines |
| VSV-NiVB F and/or G |
Preclinical |
UTMB |
| VSV-NiVM G |
Preclinical |
CDC |
| VSV-NiVM G |
Preclinical |
RML |
| VSV-NiVM F and/or G |
Preclinical |
Yale University |
| VSV-HeV G: |
Preclinical |
TJU/RML |
| RABV-HeV G: |
Preclinical |
TJU/RML |
| ALVAC-F/G |
Preclinical |
CFIA-NCFAD |
| AAV-NiVM G |
Preclinical |
INSERM |
| rMV-Ed-G |
Preclinical |
UoT |
| V-NiVG |
Preclinical |
USU |
| rLa-NiVG and/or rLa-NiVF |
Preclinical |
CAAS-SKLVB |
| Passive antibody transfer |
| Polyclonal serum NiV F or G |
Preclinical |
INSERM |
| Mouse mAbs NiV F or G |
Preclinical |
INSERM |
| Human mAb m102.4 Henipah G |
Preclinical |
USU |
Therapeutics Development for Nipah Virus Infection
Antiviral Therapies
Various antiviral drugs have been tested for their efficacy against NiV. Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral, has been used with some success in human cases, although its effectiveness remains debated. Remdesivir and favipiravir have shown promise in animal models, providing complete protection against NiV infection.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) offer a targeted approach to therapy by neutralizing the virus. m102.4, a human monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated efficacy in animal models and has advanced to Phase I clinical trials. This mAb has shown potential as a post-exposure prophylaxis against henipaviruses, including NiV.
Our Services
Our company specializes in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases, with a focus on Nipah virus infection. Our services include:
- Vaccine Design and Development: Utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create effective and safe vaccines against NiV.
- Therapeutic Antibody Production: Developing monoclonal antibodies with neutralizing capabilities against NiV.
- Preclinical research: Conducting comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our vaccines and therapeutics.
- NiV Intracerebral Inoculation Mouse Models
- NiV oral Inoculation Pig Models
- NiV Infection Syrian Hamster Models
- NiV Oronasally Inoculation Ferret Models
As a leading provider of biopharmaceutical R&D services, we are dedicated to advancing the fight against Nipah virus infection. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Mishra, Gayatree, Vishal Prajapat, and Debasis Nayak. "Advancements in Nipah virus treatment: Analysis of current progress in vaccines, antivirals, and therapeutics." Immunology 171.2 (2024): 155-169.
- Satterfield, Benjamin A., Brian E. Dawes, and Gregg N. Milligan. "Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for Nipah virus." Vaccine 34.26 (2016): 2971-2975.
- Shariff, M. "Nipah virus infection: A review." Epidemiology & Infection 147 (2019): e95.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
