Development, Production and Testing of VLP based Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this proposal is to develop a safe and efficacious virus-like particle (VLP) based-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to prevent the disease caused by this pathogen. The respiratory illnesses provokedby RSV in infants, children and the elderly are of global economical and public health impact. A recent worldwide estimate [5] indicates that over 33 million children under the age of five suffer RSV associated lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and at least 3 million are hospitalized and approximately 199,000 die of the disease each year. In the US, the CDC estimates that there are over 126,000 RSV associated pediatric hospitalizations at a cost of over 900 million per year. There is no vaccine currently licensed and treatments for the disease are limited; a prophylactic intervention relies on administering a neutralizing monoclonal (Synagis) to infants at risk of infection and to supportive care. A safe and effective vaccine would be the most desir