Severe cases of Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (VHF) can have a case fatality rate of up to 30%, highlighting the urgent need for effective vaccines and therapeutics. Through rigorous preclinical research and development services, our company is committed to providing effective solutions in the fight against VHF.
Overview of Venezuelan Hemorrhagic Fever
Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is a severe, often fatal disease caused by the Guanarito virus (GTOV), a member of the Arenaviridae family. GTOV is maintained in nature by rodents, specifically the short-tailed cane mouse (Zygodontomys brevicauda), which serves as the primary reservoir. Human infections occur through contact with infected rodent excreta, leading to the onset of VHF characterized by fever, hemorrhagic manifestations, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. The disease, if left untreated, can progress to internal bleeding and multi-organ failure, with case fatality rates as high as 30%.
Fig.1 Areas where Guanarito virus is endemic. (Sharma A., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for Venezuelan Hemorrhagic Fever
DNA Vaccines
At the forefront of VHF vaccine development is the utilization of DNA vaccine technology. This approach involves the administration of plasmids encoding for viral antigens to elicit an immune response. Studies have demonstrated that rabbits vaccinated with DNA plasmids encoding the full-length glycoprotein precursors of GTOV produce high titers of neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies have been shown to protect guinea pigs from lethal challenges of GTOV, highlighting the potential of DNA vaccines in conferring protection against VHF.
Multivalent Vaccines
The concept of a multivalent vaccine, designed to protect against multiple arenaviruses, including GTOV, is under investigation. By combining plasmids encoding glycoproteins from various arenaviruses, researchers have been able to generate neutralizing antibody responses against all targeted viruses. This strategy could potentially lead to a single vaccine that offers broad protection against different hemorrhagic fever-causing arenaviruses.
Therapeutics Development for Venezuelan Hemorrhagic Fever
- Antiviral Therapies
The mainstay of VHF therapeutics is the antiviral drug ribavirin, which has demonstrated efficacy against several arenaviruses, including GTOV. The drug works by inhibiting viral RNA synthesis. However, the effectiveness of ribavirin is highly dependent on early initiation of therapeutics. Other antiviral drugs, such as favipiravir, are under investigation. Favipiravir has shown promise in inhibiting a broad spectrum of RNA viruses, and its efficacy against VHF is currently being explored.
- Immunotherapeutics
The use of neutralizing antibodies as immunotherapeutics is another area of active research. Convalescent-phase plasma containing neutralizing antibodies has been used to treat VHF, with significant reductions in case fatality rates. The development of antibody cocktails targeting multiple arenaviruses is a promising approach, as these cocktails have been shown to protect guinea pigs against lethal challenges of GTOV and other arenaviruses.
Our Services
Our preclinical research services focus on advancing VHF vaccine and therapeutic candidates through rigorous testing and development programs. By leveraging state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) containment areas, we are able to conduct comprehensive studies on VHF, ensuring the safety and efficacy of our vaccine and therapy candidates.
Disease Models
- Guanarito Virus Infection Guinea Pig Models (Strain 13 and Hartley)
- GTOV Infection Rhesus Macaque Models
- GTOV Infection Marmoset Models
- GTOV Infection African Green Monkey Models
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
- Customized Research Services
For VHF therapeutics, our services extend to the identification and validation of drug targets, the evaluation of drug efficacy, and the optimization of drug delivery strategies. We provide expertise in the development of both small molecule antivirals and immunotherapeutics. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Sharma, Anuj, and Barbara Knollmann-Ritschel. "Current understanding of the molecular basis of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus pathogenesis and vaccine development." Viruses 11.2 (2019): 164.
- Risner, Kenneth, et al. "Efficacy of FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection." Viruses 11.12 (2019): 1151.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
