Attenuated live vaccine for crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus and erve virus
AssigneesTHE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as represented by the Secretary, Dept. of Health and Human, Colorado Seminary, which owns and operates the University of Denver
InventorsEric BERGERON, Scott Dusan PEGAN, Stuart T. NICHOL, Michelle Kay DEATON
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Abstract
The genetically modified nairoviruses of this invention possesses a viral ovarian tumor protease with decreased ability to remove ubiquitin (Ub) and ISG15 tags that the human organism uses to label proteins for removal. Exemplary are Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Erve virus. Unlike complete knockout strains, the modified virus retains enough activity for replication in a human cell line. This creates an immunogenic and non-pathogenic virus that can be used as an effective live vaccine agent for prophylaxis and treatment.
Claims23
An immunogenic composition effective in eliciting a specific immune response, comprising a nanovirus that is capable of replication in human cells, but that has been recombinantly altered to have decreased deubiquinating activity or decreased deISGylating activity while maintaining protease activity.
(canceled)
A recombinant nanovirus that has been modified to have both decreased deubiquitinating activity and decreased deISGylating activity, and that is capable of replication in human cells.
18-21. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method of developing an immunogenic but substantially non-pathogenic nairovirus, comprising:
- (a) transfecting a host cell with the genome of a wild-type hemorrhagic fever virus;
- (b) introducing one or more genetic alterations into said genome;
- (c) obtaining replicated virus particles comprising said genetic alterations from the host cell;
- and
- (d) testing the replicated virus particles for decreased deubiquitinating activity and/or decreased deISGylating activity;
- and
- (e) selecting one or more virus particles with decreased deubiquitinating activity and/or decreased deISGylating activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.