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A35R: Improved Poxvirus Vaccines for Infectious Diseases and Cancer
Case # 0618
Technology Contact
Overview
Carlyle Rogers, PhD
Phone: 252-737-1648
Email: [email protected]
Vaccinia virus, a member of the poxvirus family, is best known for its role in the
eradication of smallpox. Outside of smallpox, vaccinia viruses have been used to
protect animals and humans against multiple infectious diseases (including monkeypox
in humans) and as a cancer treatment. Although vaccinia viruses can elicit a strong
host-immune response, questions about the safety and/or efficacy of some of these
viruses still remain. Our data show that removal of the A35R gene, which is highly
conserved in all poxviruses with a mammalian host range, will give both improved
safety and efficacy for many poxvirus based vaccines.
Technology
Patent Portfolio
US 9028837
US 8202521
CA2644079
AU2006339618
MX315638
Dr. Rachel Roper from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Brody
School of Medicine at East Carolina University has identified a novel gene called A35R.
Removal of the A35R gene leads to a poxvirus vaccine that has improved safety and
efficacy. Thus, this technology is useful for the numerous poxvirus vectors designed to
protect against infectious disease and treat cancer. The poxvirus vaccinia virus is well
suited for vaccine development but its use is limited due to its virulence. By removing
the A35R gene in vaccinia virus, virulence is significantly reduced (1000-fold
attenuation) leading to an increase in the safety profile of the poxvirus vaccine. The
poxvirus vaccinia MVA (Modified Vaccinia Ankara) is very safe but it cannot replicate
well and does not induce strong immune responses. Deletion of the A35 in this pox
virus vector improves immune responses. Additionally the A35 deletion virus
replicates to high titers in mammalian cells (much better than MVA)..
Advantages
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Improved safety
Increased immunogenicity
No Reduction in Virus Growth Cycle
Expansion of the Use of Vaccinia Virus as a Vector
Therapeutic Areas of Interest
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Zika Virus
Ebola
Rabies
Cancer (Improvement in Vaccine Immunogenicity and Safety)
Selected Publications
Gwendolyn JB Jones, Corey Boles, and Rachel L. Roper. Raccoonpoxvirus Safety in
Immunocompromised and Pregnant Mouse Models. Vaccine, 2014 Jun
30;32(31):3977-81. doi: 10.1016/j. PMID: 24837508
K. E. Rehm and R. L. Roper.2011. Deletion of the A35 gene from Modified Vaccinia
Virus Ankara Increases Immunogenicity and Isotype Switching. Vaccine, 29: 3276–
3283. PMID: 21352940
K. E. Rehm, G. J. B. Jones, A. A. Tripp, M. W. Metcalf, and R. L. Roper. 2010. The
Poxvirus A35 Protein is an Immunoregulator, J. Virol, 84(1):418-425. PMID: 19828608.
Roper, R. L. 2006. Characterization of the Vaccinia Virus A35R Protein and its Role in
Virulence. J. Virol. Jan, 80: 306-313. PMID: 16352555
Inventor Profiles
http://www.ecu.edu/ott/0618roper.cfm
Dr. Rachel Roper is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and
Immunology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Her research
focuses on viral pathogens and mechanisms of virulence in Poxviruses (relatives of
smallpox), and Coronaviruses, which include the human Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) and MERS virus. Both virus groups are of concern in human and
veterinary health. Smallpox is a Category A biological disease agent which has been
identified by the US Government as a primary bioterrorism/biowarfare threat.