The escalating cases of West Nile fever (WNF) underscore the pressing demand for impactful vaccines and therapeutic solutions. Our organization specializes in offering all-encompassing services dedicated to the advancement of vaccines and therapeutics targeting West Nile fever.
Overview of West Nile Fever
West Nile fever (WNF) is a viral disease caused by the West Nile virus (WNV), which is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, particularly from the Culex genus. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and has since spread globally, becoming endemic in many regions, including North America and parts of Europe. The clinical manifestation of WNV infection varies widely, with approximately 80% of infected individuals remaining asymptomatic. However, around 20% may develop mild symptoms resembling flu, known as West Nile fever (WNF), while approximately 1 in 150 cases can progress to more severe neurological diseases, including West Nile neurological disease (WNND), which can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.
Fig.1 United Nations annual West Nile virus-related morbidity and mortality. (Kaiser J. A., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for West Nile Fever
The development of vaccines for West Nile Fever has been an area of significant research interest, especially given the increasing incidence of WNV infections. Several veterinary vaccines have been licensed for use in animals, including horses, and the table below shows information on some of the WNV vaccine candidates.
Table 1 Summary of WNV vaccine candidates. (Kaiser J. A., et al., 2019)
| Vaccine |
Vaccine Type |
Developer |
WNV Strain |
Clinical Trial (Onset) |
Clinical Trial Number |
| VRC 302 |
prM/E DNA with CMV or CMV/R promoter |
NIAID Vaccine Research Center |
NY99 |
Phase I (2006) |
NCT00106769 |
| VRC 303 |
NCT00300417 |
| WN-80E |
Recombinant, truncated E protein |
Hawaii Biotech |
NY99 |
Phase I (2008) |
NCT00707642 |
| WN/DEN4∆30 |
Chimeric, live virus with WNV prM/E and DENV-4 nonstrucutral genes with a 30 nt deletion |
NIAID Division of Intramural Research |
NY99 |
Phase I (2004) |
NCT00094718 |
| Phase I (2007) |
NCT00537147 |
| Phase I (2014) |
NCT02186626 |
| Formalin-inactivated WNV |
Formalin-inactivated whole virus |
Nanotherapeutics Inc. |
NY99 |
Phase I/II |
none |
| HydroVax-001 |
Hydrogen peroxide-inactivated whole virus |
Najit Technologies |
Kunjin |
Phase I (2015) |
NCT02337868 |
| ChimeriVax-WN02 |
Chimeric, live virus with WNV prM/E and YFV 17D nonstrucutral genes with three site-directed mutations in the E protein |
Sanofi Pasteur |
NY99 |
Phase I |
none |
| Phase II (2005) |
NCT00442169 |
| Phase II (2008) |
NCT00746798 |
Therapeutics Development for West Nile Fever
Antiviral Therapies: The development of antiviral drugs against WNV has focused on targeting the viral replication machinery, such as the NS3 protease and NS5 polymerase. Small molecule inhibitors, like those targeting the hydrophobic pocket in the viral envelope protein, have shown antiviral activity in vitro.
Monoclonal Antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies offer a promising therapeutic approach by neutralizing the virus or enhancing the immune response against WNV. These antibodies, such as MGAWN1, have demonstrated efficacy in animal models and are being evaluated for safety and efficacy in clinical trials.
RNA Interference: RNA interference (RNAi) involves the use of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to specifically degrade viral RNA sequences. This approach has shown potential in reducing WNV replication in cell culture models.
Our Services
Vaccine Development: We offer end-to-end vaccine development services, including the identification of viral antigens, formulation of vaccine candidates, and assessment of their immunogenicity and protective capacity in rigorously controlled preclinical studies.
Therapeutics Development: Our therapeutics development services focus on discovering and optimizing small molecules, biologics, and other interventional approaches to treat WNF. We leverage our expertise in virology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology to advance promising drug candidates.
- WNV Infection C57BL/6J Models
- WNV Infection Collaborative Cross (CC) Models
- Golden Hamster West Nile Encephalitis Models
- Customized Animal Models
We conduct extensive preclinical research to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of vaccine candidates in relevant animal models. This includes assessing immune responses, protective efficacy, and potential adverse effects. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Kaiser, Jaclyn A., and Alan DT Barrett. "Twenty years of progress toward West Nile virus vaccine development." Viruses 11.9 (2019): 823.
- Acharya, Dhiraj, and Fengwei Bai. "An overview of current approaches toward the treatment and prevention of West Nile virus infection." West Nile Virus: Methods and Protocols (2016): 249-291.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
