VLPs for Paramyxovirus Vaccines

Date/Time: 30 April 2012, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Speaker: Pramila Walpita, Ph.D.
Speaker Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
Venue: John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kaka’ako, MEB Auditorium (Room 315)

For more info: Cori Watanabe (808) 692-1654
Description: Paramyxoviruses comprise many human pathogens, including measles virus, human parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, mumps virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human metapneumovirus. They also include two recently recognized and highly lethal zoonotic paramyxoviruses, namely Nipah and Hendra viruses. Human use vaccines are available for only measles and mumps, and they were both empirically derived many years ago. Vaccines have remained elusive for the remainder of these important viral pathogens despite concentrated efforts of many investigators for decades in some cases. We are evaluating virus-like particles (VLPs) as paramyxovirus vaccines. We have recently reported the first evidence for the potential of native VLPs as vaccine to prevent Nipah virus disease. The knowledge gained from these studies open up possibilities for developing VLP vaccines also for other paramyxoviruses including those of public health concern worldwide, such as respiratory syncytial virus.