Vaccination Strategies to Provide Protection Against the Ebola Virus
Description of Invention:
This invention describes a method for vaccination against Ebola virus. Outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus, particularly the Zaire subtype, are associated with high mortality rates. The virus is very contagious, and during an outbreak, presents a threat to anybody who comes into contact with an infected person. Because the virus progresses so rapidly and the mortality rate is so high, there is little opportunity to develop natural immunity, making vaccination a promising intervention. This invention relates to a vaccine strategy employing DNA and adenoviral vectors expressing proteins associated with the Ebola virus. This vaccine strategy, a DNA prime with an adenoviral boost, elicits a protective immune response in primates. A vaccine was designed to optimize expression by incorporating genes for two subtypes of the glycoprotein (Zaire and Sudan) and minimizes toxicity by eliminating the trans-membrane region. The specific genes identified may be used for gene-based or protein-based vaccines that will prevent Ebola infection.
Inventors:
Gary Nabel et al. (VRC/NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-241-2001/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/326,476 filed 01 Oct 2001
PCT Application No. PCT/US02/30251 filed 24 Sep 2002, which published as WO 03/028632 on 10 Apr 2003
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/491,121 filed 23 Aug 2004
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
