A Universal Prophylactic Vaccine For Hepatitis C Virus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,337.00
Summary
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects 200 million people world wide. An effective vaccine to prevent HCV is urgently needed but must afford protection against the 7 diverse genotypes. In this project grant we aim to further define the quality of the immune response that is generated by a novel HCV vaccine candidate that generates pan-genotypic immunity, its unique structural features, and methods of manufacturing so that it can be tested in a future phase I human clinical trial.
A Novel Vaccine Platform For Trimeric Envelope Proteins: HIV-1 Envelope
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,250.00
Summary
Vaccines are urgently needed for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The design of this vaccine candidate is based on the display of HIV-1 envelope spikes using a related primate retrovirus envelope with a more stable assembly to anchor the the spikes in a particle.
Kunjin Virus Replicon-based Vaccine Vectors: New Developments And Applications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
The project is aimed towards further development of a unique gene expression and delivery system based on self-replicating RNA (replicon) of the nonvirulent Australian flavivirus Kunjin (KUN). A number of improvements in the design of KUN replicon vectors aimed to increase their efficiency and to optimize them for production of heterologous gene products with desired terminal sequences are proposed. Also proposed are improvements in the current KUN replicon packaging system and development of ne ....The project is aimed towards further development of a unique gene expression and delivery system based on self-replicating RNA (replicon) of the nonvirulent Australian flavivirus Kunjin (KUN). A number of improvements in the design of KUN replicon vectors aimed to increase their efficiency and to optimize them for production of heterologous gene products with desired terminal sequences are proposed. Also proposed are improvements in the current KUN replicon packaging system and development of new packaging systems for production of large amounts of virus-like particles (VLPs) containing KUN replicon RNA enclosed in KUN coat proteins for use as potential vaccines. The vaccine potentials of the curent and newly developed KUN vectors and VLPs will be evaluated in mice using respiratory syncytial virus as a model. An entirely new direction proposed in this application is generation of chimeric fowlpox virus-KUN replicon vectors which will combine the advantages of both systems and may result in the generation of an ultimate vaccine vector.Read moreRead less
Efficacy Of Asexual Blood-stage Antigens And Antigen Combinations For Vaccination Of Mice Against Plasmodium Chabaudi.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,320.00
Summary
The development of a vaccine against malaria is one of the world's major public health priorities. Over the last two decades much progress has been made towards the development of a malaria vaccine but none is yet available that is suitable for use in humans. Many parasite molecules have been identified that are considered potential components of a malaria vaccine and some of these have already reach the stage of being tested in early clinical trials. However, a major problem confronting the fie ....The development of a vaccine against malaria is one of the world's major public health priorities. Over the last two decades much progress has been made towards the development of a malaria vaccine but none is yet available that is suitable for use in humans. Many parasite molecules have been identified that are considered potential components of a malaria vaccine and some of these have already reach the stage of being tested in early clinical trials. However, a major problem confronting the field of malaria vaccine development is finding the resources necessary to test the large number of antigens and antigen combinations that are considered of potential value. One way to gain information that will help to determine which antigens and antigen combinations should have priority for testing in clinical trials is to carry out vaccine trials in monkeys or mice using malaria parasites that infect these species. We will use Plasmodium chabaudi infections in the mouse to examine the ability of three antigens from the disease causing blood stages of the parasite to induce antibody responses that prevent the development of severe malaria. We will determine whether antigen combinations provide better protection than single antigens when mice are challenged with a variety of parasite strains. Detailed analyses of the antibody responses will be carried out to determine if combining antigens changes the response in a way that may help or hinder vaccine efficacy.Read moreRead less