Epitopes of Ebola Virus Glycoproteins Useful for Vaccine Development
Description of Invention:
The current technology relates to the identification of two highly conserved linear domains of Ebola or Marburg envelope glycoprotein (GP) and of amino acid residues within these regions critical for virus infection. The identified domains could provide targets for rational design and development of broadly cross-protective antivirals and vaccines. There are currently no licensed vaccines against Ebola and Marburg. The linear domains (or portions) could potentially be used as immunogens in a vaccine. Mutations containing these epitopes have been identified to result in the formation of non-infectious Ebola viral particles, which could be useful for developing vaccines against Ebola virus, a category A biodefense agent. Vaccines utilizing these non-infectious particles may be safer than vaccines that use other common approaches, e.g. live-attenuated virus vaccines. This technology describes the polypeptides that form the non-infectious Ebola viral particles, the polynucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, host cells transformed with such vectors, vaccines and methods suitable for use in the prevention and/or treatment of hemorrhagic fever due to Ebola or Marburg, and a molecular decoy comprising the polynucleotides. These additional materials could also form the basis of an Ebola vaccine or antiviral therapy. Diagnostic applications involving the aforementioned materials are also described. Development of antiviral compounds and vaccines for treatment and prevention of Ebola and Marburg infections would be of tremendous benefit for biodefense and public health. However, the current Ebola vaccine technologies such as DNA-based vaccines and subunit vaccines either have safety risks or lack broad cross-protectivity. Therefore, the present technology could provide a promising technology to make safe and broad cross-reactive antivirals or vaccines against Ebola and Marburg viruses.
Inventors:
Carolyn A. Wilson et al. (FDA)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-271-2003/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/532,677 filed 23 Dec 2003
DHHS Reference No. E-271-2003/1 --
PCT Application No. PCT/US04/43360 filed 23 Dec 2004, which published as WO 2005/063789 on 14 Jul 2005
Licensing Status:
In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
