Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters.

In recent years, it has become evident that a generational gap has developed in the community of arbovirus research. This apparent gap is due to the dis-investment of training for the next generation of arbovirologists, which threatens to derail the rich history of virus discovery, field epidemiology, and understanding of the richness of diversity that surrounds us. On the other hand, new technologies have resulted in an explosion of virus discovery that is constantly redefining the virosphere and the evolutionary relationships between viruses.

In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Effectiveness of Ebola Virus Specific Equine Polyclonal F(ab')2.

There is no vaccine or approved therapy against lethal Ebola virus (EBOV). We investigated a proven technology platform to produce polyclonal IgG fragments, F(ab')2, against EBOV. Horses immunized with nanoparticles harboring surface glycoprotein trimers of EBOV-Zaire/Makona produced anti-Ebola IgG polyclonal antibodies with high neutralization activity.

Rational design of rabies vaccine formulation for enhanced stability.

Background/aim: Vaccines are often lyophilized in order to retain their stability and efficacy for a longer period of time. However, the same lyophilization process may also cause a major degradation of the vaccine, especially during early phases of manufacturing, leading to a loss of potency of the product. Many viral diseases, such as rabies, are acute and fatal unless the vaccine is administered prior to exposure or the onset of symptoms in the case of postexposure treatment.

Efficacy of a specific polyclonal equine F(ab')2 against avian influenza (H5N1) in ferrets: synergy with oseltamivir.

Aim: Current therapies against avian influenza (H5N1) provide limited clinical benefit. FBF-001 is a highly purified equine polyclonal immunoglobulin fragment against H5N1.

Methods: Using a ferret model of severe acute H5N1 infection, we assessed FBF-001 when administered on the same day or 1 day after viral challenge, in comparison with oseltamivir therapy.

Specific polyclonal F(ab')2 neutralize a large panel of highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (H5N1) and control infection in mice.

Aim: There is still no specific therapy for infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (HPAI) H5N1, which caused 39 human cases with a 64% fatality rate in 2013.

Materials & Methods: We prepared highly purified specific equine polyclonal immunoglobulin fragments (F(ab')2) against H5N1 and tested them for efficacy in vitro and with different administration schedules in H5N1-challenged BALB/c mice.

Results: in vitro, F(ab')2 neutralized 21 different H5N1 strains from different areas, representative of 11 different clades and sub-clades and 9 years of evolution of the virus.

Immunogenicity of a thermally inactivated rotavirus vaccine in mice.

Current approaches to the prevention of severe rotavirus diarrhea and deaths in children have all been through the use of live oral vaccines. To develop a safe and effective inactivated rotavirus vaccine (IRV), a new simple, rapid and robust method for the inactivation is critical and essential because chemical inactivation commonly used for a number of killed vaccines has been a challenge and problematic for rotavirus. We have examined an array of thermal conditions and demonstrated that purified YK-1 rotavirus in diluent buffer can be completely inactivated by heat treatment, as evidenced by the lack of virus growth in two successive passages in cell culture.

Immunogenicity and safety of two live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine formulations in healthy Australian adults.

We conducted a Phase 1b study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of two live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccines in healthy adult volunteers. After one injection, all subjects reported systemic reactions consistent with a mild dengue-like syndrome. Seven volunteers developed dengue 3 viraemia after vaccination.

Safety and immunogenicity of a three dose regimen of two tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccines in five- to twelve-year-old Thai children.

Objective: The safety and immunogenicity of tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccines after a three dose vaccination series were evaluated in Thai children.

Method: One hundred three healthy flavivirus-seronegative schoolchildren ages 5 to 12 years were randomized to receive either dengue vaccine containing 3, 2, 1 and 2 log10 of the 50% cell culture infective dose, respectively, of the live-attenuated dengue vaccine serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 per dose (F3212; n = 40) or 3, 3, 1 and 3 log10 of the 50% cell culture infective dose (F3313; n = 42) or purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (control group; n = 21) given in a two dose schedule (3 to 5 months apart). A third dose was administered 8 to 12 months after the second dose to 90 subjects.

Safety and immunogenicity of tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccines in Thai adult volunteers: role of serotype concentration, ratio, and multiple doses.

Dengue fever, caused by four serotypes of a mosquito-borne virus, is a growing problem in tropical countries. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine. We evaluated safety and immunogenicity of two doses, given six months apart, of seven formulations of dengue tetravalent live-attenuated vaccine (containing different concentrations of the component viruses) versus placebo in 59 flavivirus-seronegative Thai adults.