Advanced Preclinical Testing of a Novel Recombinant Vaccine Against Zika Virus

Information

  • Research Project
  • 9511753
  • ApplicationId
    9511753
  • Core Project Number
    R43AI134200
  • Full Project Number
    5R43AI134200-02
  • Serial Number
    134200
  • FOA Number
    PA-16-302
  • Sub Project Id
  • Project Start Date
    6/24/2017 - 7 years ago
  • Project End Date
    5/31/2019 - 5 years ago
  • Program Officer Name
    CHALLBERG, MARK D
  • Budget Start Date
    6/1/2018 - 6 years ago
  • Budget End Date
    5/31/2019 - 5 years ago
  • Fiscal Year
    2018
  • Support Year
    02
  • Suffix
  • Award Notice Date
    5/22/2018 - 6 years ago
Organizations

Advanced Preclinical Testing of a Novel Recombinant Vaccine Against Zika Virus

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The recent acceleration in incidence and intensity of human disease caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has prompted an international outcry for safe and effective countermeasures. Currently protection against mosquito bites and vector control are the only measures available to prevent ZIKV infections. A vaccine is urgently needed. The studies proposed here build on previous work that demonstrates the protective efficacy of recombinant vaccines using the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) live viral vector. GeoVax has constructed two novel MVA vaccine candidates against ZIKV: one expressing the ZIKV NS1 protein, and a second expressing ZIKV prME. Both vaccine candidates show excellent immunogenicity and protective efficacy against ZIKV infection in a stringent intracerebral challenge mouse model. In this application, we propose to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of these two vaccine candidates in rhesus macaques (RM). The project has three specific aims. Under the first aim, GeoVax will scale up vaccine production for a large study in RM and develop methods for quality control and standardization of methods for vaccine preparation. Under the second aim, RM will be immunized with the two vaccines following either a prime-only or a prime-boost vaccination regimen. Samples will be collected from the immunized animals at discrete intervals and tested for antigen-specific antibody by ELISA, for neutralizing antibody by PRNT50, and for antigen-specific T cell responses by flow cytometry of cells stained by intracellular cytokine staining for activation of CD4+ and CD8+ populations. The protective efficacy of these vaccines in RM will be tested by challenging the immunized animals with live ZIKV and assessing viral load in serum and other tissues compared to the sham immunized control group. Under the third aim we will investigate the role of antibody in protection using passive transfer experiments in mice. Purified IgG from sera of immunized RM will be passively transferred to mice that will then be challenged with appropriate ZIKV strains and assessed for temporal viremia following intravenous challenge. Additionally, we will test RM immune sera and controls for potential antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE) using Dengue serotype 2 as a model, and for the presence of autoantibodies that react with self-antigens. The vaccine candidate yielding optimal protection with minimal detrimental effects will be chosen for further development. The long term objective of this project is clinical development and testing of vaccine candidates against ZIKV infection, in response to a 2016 NIAID call to the research community highlighting its interest in funding such research. Upon completion of this two-year project, GeoVax will submit a Phase II SBIR to request funding for further development of the selected vaccine candidate in preparation for human clinical testing.

IC Name
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
  • Activity
    R43
  • Administering IC
    AI
  • Application Type
    5
  • Direct Cost Amount
  • Indirect Cost Amount
  • Total Cost
    300000
  • Sub Project Total Cost
  • ARRA Funded
    False
  • CFDA Code
    855
  • Ed Inst. Type
  • Funding ICs
    NIAID:300000\
  • Funding Mechanism
    SBIR-STTR RPGs
  • Study Section
    ZRG1
  • Study Section Name
    Special Emphasis Panel
  • Organization Name
    GEOVAX, INC.
  • Organization Department
  • Organization DUNS
    148374205
  • Organization City
    SMYRNA
  • Organization State
    GA
  • Organization Country
    UNITED STATES
  • Organization Zip Code
    300807648
  • Organization District
    UNITED STATES