Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a prototypical Phlebovirus (family Bunyaviridae), belongs to the NIAID Category A list of pathogens and the CDC list of potential bioterrorism agents. RVFV causes a disease that is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and can emerge in explosive, mosquito-borne epidemics decimating herds of sheep and cattle, resulting in enormous economic losses. In humans, RVFV infection may cause hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, and retinal vasculitis. Many different mosquitoes, including several native to North America, are competent vectors for RVFV transmission. Thus, the introduction of RVFV into North America would likely cause panic in the general population, and the effects on livestock could have a devastating economic impact. Induction of a humoral immune response against the viral envelope proteins is necessary and sufficient to provide protection against RVFV. Currently, there is no RVFV vaccine suitable for mass human vaccination programs. The MP-12 strain, which was obtained by 12 serial passages of the wild-type RVFV strain ZH548 in the presence of 5-fluorouracil, is markedly attenuated in mice but retains its immunogenicity. However, intraperitoneal inoculation of MP-12 into young mice or SCID mice results in efficient virus replication in the animals' central nervous system. The neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence potential of MP-12 is a matter of concern when considering the mass vaccination of the general public, especially, in immunocompromised individuals. The present application proposes the development of a novel and safer MP-12-derived vaccine candidate by introducing mutations in the viral envelope glycoprotein, Gc, and the virulence factor, NSs. The mutation selectively abolishes specific functions of these proteins and creates a crippled MP-12. We will test the hypothesis that this MP-12-based vaccine candidate exhibits a better safety profile than MP-12 in mice but still retains its immunogenicity and protective efficacy. In this proposal, we will examine its genetic stability in cultured cells nd assess its safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy by using mouse models.
Rift Valley fever virus causes an endemic disease for livestock and humans in sub- Saharan Africa. However, there is serious concern about the possible introduction of this virus into North America, and there is currently no Rift Valley fever virus vaccine suitable for massive human vaccination programs. This research program seeks to develop novel and safe live attenuated Rift Valley fever virus vaccines.
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| Baer, Alan; Shafagati, Nazly; Benedict, Ashwini et al. (2016) Protein Phosphatase-1 regulates Rift Valley fever virus replication. Antiviral Res 127:79-89 |
| Lokugamage, Kumari G; Narayanan, Krishna; Nakagawa, Keisuke et al. (2015) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus nsp1 Inhibits Host Gene Expression by Selectively Targeting mRNAs Transcribed in the Nucleus while Sparing mRNAs of Cytoplasmic Origin. J Virol 89:10970-81 |
