Fiscal Year:
2007
Title:
Dengue Reporter Virus Neutralization Assay for Clinical Studies
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
2R42AI062100-03
Award Amount:
$2,649,021.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dengue virus (DENV) is the most significant cause of arthropod-borne viral disease in humans, resulting in an estimated 50 million cases of dengue fever and over 450,000 cases of life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic feve
r/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) each year. DENV has spread alarmingly across the globe over the past few decades, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of dengue cases. As a result, DENV is now classified as a Category A pathogen of interest to
the NIH. An effective dengue vaccine is critically needed, but has proven a significant challenge to develop because low affinity or low concentration antibodies that do not neutralize DENV can instead enhance infection. Thus, a vaccine that does not confe
r persistent protection against all four serotypes of the virus is potentially dangerous to recipients if they are subsequently infected. Large-scale human trials of several tetravalent dengue vaccines are imminent, but reliable, high- throughput tools for
measuring protective humoral immunity in these trials are still lacking. The primary assay for detecting neutralizing antibodies in human serum is the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). PRNT is poorly suited for measuring the magnitude, persiste
nce, and specificity of the humoral response in large- scale vaccine trials. Analysis of large numbers of serum samples would be greatly facilitated by the availability of a new, quality-controlled, automated method to test for neutralizing antibodies spec
ific for each DENV serotype. In response to this need, we developed the dengue reporter virus particle (DENV RVP) which can be used to monitor infection of cells in culture and to detect the presence of neutralizing antibodies in a test sample. We expect c
ommercial DENV RVPs to be used in vaccine trials, clinical studies, and basic dengue research. To complete the development and validation of the DENV RVP, our Specific Aims are: Validate RVPs for use in clinical studies Verify suitability of RVPs f
or use in dengue vaccine trials Develop advanced production, quality control, and modifications of RVPs for clinical and research applications The global distribution of dengue virus is spreading rapidly - there are already 3 billion people (50
% of the world's population) living at risk of infection, resulting in more than 50 million cases of illness each year, making it the most significant arthropod-borne viral pathogen of humans. Vaccine development and epidemiological surveillance and contro
l programs are hampered by the lack of a rapid, easy method for measuring protective humoral immunity. The product that will result from this proposal, a kit containing the dengue reporter virus particle (DENV RVP), will be the first safe, high-throughput,
standardized assay of DENV neutralizing antibodies, and the most immediate public health impact of its use by customers will be accelerating tetravalent vaccine efficacy trials.
Small Business Information at Submission:
INTEGRAL MOLECULAR
INTEGRAL MOLECULAR 3701 MARKET ST, STE 340 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104
EIN/Tax ID:
233091965
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No
Research Institution Information:
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
2150 Shattuck Avenue, Room 313
BERKELEY, CA 94704 5940
RI Type:
Nonprofit college or university