Project description:A novel henipavirus (HNV) named Langya virus (LayV) was isolated in human patients in China in August 2022. It is closely related to Mòjiāng virus (MojV) and represents the first instance of HNV zoonosis to humans outside of Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra viruses (HeV). Within this work, mass spectrometry glycoproteomic analysis revealed that although the LayV F protein has reduced glycosylation compared to its NiV and HeV counterparts, a unique glycan was identified positioned at the DIII apex, shielding a previously identified site of vulnerability in NiV F.
2023-05-03 | PXD039898 | Pride
Project description:Infection of Marmosets with Nipah virus Bangladesh
Project description:Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging paramyxovirus which causes severe respiratory illness and deathly encephalitis in humans.Improving the ability of vaccines to induce strong, cellular, and humoral immune responses, remains the challenge to respond to Nipah and future Henipavirus infections rapidly and efficiently. A CD40.NiV vaccine has been engineered by fusing to the anti-CD40 monoclonal Ab the ectodomain of the Nipah G protein (Bangladesh strain) and immunogenic and conserved NiV F and N peptides. In mice, CD40.NiV promotes poly-antigenic T cell responses and significantly improves anti-NiV G IgG responses compared to the non-targeted NiV G immunogenic protein, in terms of avidity and neutralization potency. Immunogenicity was confirmed in the AGM (African Green Monkey) model, with induction of cross-neutralizing sera against circulating NiV strains and Hendra virus (HeV). Challenge experiment using NiV-B strain demonstrated the high protective efficacy of the vaccine with 100% survival in vaccinated group as compared to 100% lethality in controls. Surviving animals did not exhibit NiV viral replication in the blood, organs and swabs suggesting a sterilizing immunity conferred by the CD40.NiV vaccine. Taken together, results obtained with CD40.NiV vaccine are highly promising in terms of breadth and viral efficacy against NiV.
Project description:Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) is a ligand for six Eph receptors in humans and also functions as a cell entry receptor for several henipaviruses, which are zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential. Two such viruses, Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV), are highly pathogenic in humans yet do not have any widely approved virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines. Soluble Fc-fusions of EFNB2 (sEFNB2-Fc) are known to bind the attachment glycoprotein G of both viruses and inhibit viral infection of cells. However, the potential of sEFNB2-Fc as a neutralizing agent in vivo is hindered by its binding activity to native Eph receptors. Therefore, using deep mutagenesis, variants of EFNB2 at cell surface are identified with increased binding to the soluble head domain of NiV-G over soluble Fc-fusions of the extracellular domains of Eph receptors. Specificity mutations for NiV-G are found primarily at the binding interface, especially around the G-H binding loop. The mutational landscape offers a preliminary blueprint for engineering sEFNB2-Fc variants with high specificity and affinity for potent neutralization of henipaviruses.
Project description:Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) is a ligand for six Eph receptors in humans and also functions as a cell entry receptor for several henipaviruses, which are zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential. Two such viruses, Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV), are highly pathogenic in humans yet do not have any widely approved virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines. Soluble Fc-fusions of EFNB2 (sEFNB2-Fc) are known to bind the attachment glycoprotein G of both viruses and inhibit viral infection of cells. However, the potential of sEFNB2-Fc as a neutralizing agent in vivo is hindered by its binding activity to native Eph receptors. Therefore, using deep mutagenesis, variants of EFNB2 at cell surface are identified with increased binding to the soluble head domain of NiV-G over soluble Fc-fusions of the extracellular domains of Eph receptors. Specificity mutations for NiV-G are found primarily at the binding interface, especially around the G-H binding loop. The mutational landscape offers a preliminary blueprint for engineering sEFNB2-Fc variants with high specificity and affinity for potent neutralization of henipaviruses.
Project description:In 1998 an outbreak of fatal encephalitis among pig farm workers in Malaysia and Singapore led to the discovery of Nipah henipavirus (NiV), a novel paramyxovirus closely related to Hendra henipavirus with case fatality rates of nearly 40%. Following its initial emergence nearly annual outbreaks of NiV have occurred in Bangladesh with a different, NiV Bangladesh, genotype, where the role of pigs in its transmission remains unknown. The present study provides the first report on susceptibility of domestic pigs to NiV Bangladesh following experimental infection, characterizing acute and long-term phases of disease and pathogenesis. All pigs were successfully infected with NiV Bangladesh following oronasal inoculation, with viral shedding confirmed by a novel genotype-specific qRT-PCR in oral, nasal and rectal excretions and dissemination from the upper respiratory tract to the brain, lungs, and associated lymphatic tissues. Unlike previous NiV Malaysia findings in pigs, clinical signs were absent, viremia was undetectable throughout the study, and only low level neutralizing antibody titers were measured by 28/29 days post-NiV-B infection. Results obtained highlight the need for continued and enhanced NiV surveillance in pigs in endemic and at-risk regions, and raise questions regarding applicability of current serological assays to detect animals with previous NiV-B exposure.