Immunogens and Vaccine Compositions Against Flavivirus - (HJF 624-22)

HJF researchers have developed a novel recombinant flavivirus immunogen that can induce immunogenicity against multiple flaviviruses, including ZIKV (Zika) and DENV (dengue), without life-threatening antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) responses. Mice immunized with this recombinant immunogen were protected from lethal ZIKV challenge.

Applications and Advantages

Vaccine immunogen for prophylactic protection against flaviviruses (e.g., Zika and Dengue)
Should avoid life-threatening antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) responses
Diagnostic/research reagent

Innovation Description

Flaviviruses, such as zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV), are transmitted mostly by mosquitoes and cause significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Historically vaccines against flaviviruses have been based on platforms presenting the full flavivirus envelope (E) protein. Such vaccines increase the potential for a life-threatening phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. Currently, there is no FDA approved vaccine against ZIKV. At present there is no approved DENV vaccine for children under 9 years old or people over 16. Therefore, there is an urgent need of vaccine components, such as immunogens, that can induce immunogenicity against multiple flaviviruses, including ZIKV and DENV, without ADE responses.

Researchers at HJF have developed a novel recombinant immunogen by deleting a highly conserved domain (domain II) of the flavivirus E protein, which is one of the major targets of cross-reactive responses that lead to ADE. The resulting immunogen retains domains I and III (DI-DIII) and displays key neutralizing epitopes for flavivirus (e.g., ZIKV and DENV) neutralizing antibodies. Mice immunized with this recombinant immunogen were protected from lethal ZIKV challenge. HJF seeks co-development partners and/or licensees for this technology to develop therapeutics against flavivirus (e.g., ZIKV and DENV) infections.