There is emerging evidence that puts the estimates of astrovirus count at approximately 2-9% for acute, non-bacterial diarrhea among children around the globe which calls for better vaccines as well as medications. Our company is dedicated to driving progress in the development of impactful vaccines and therapies for astrovirus infections.
Overview of Astrovirus Infection
Astrovirus infections are caused by the astroviruses which belong to a family of positive-sense single strand RNA viruses. These organisms have been shown to be one of the causes of viral gastroenteritis particularly in high risk groups, including infants, elderly and those with low immunity levels. The typical picture of an astrovirus infection consists of diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, with the duration of the ostensible symptoms ranging from 1-3 days. But, in the case of immunocompromised patients, the infection may progress to more serious conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis and even systemic disease.
Fig.1 Nitazoxanide inhibits the replication of HAstV-1 in Caco-2 cells. (Hargest V., et al., 2020)
Vaccine Development for Astrovirus Infection
Inactivated and Live Attenuated Vaccines
An astrovirus vaccine can be created using inactivated and live attenuated vaccines which involve traditional methods. Physical or chemical methods are employed in creating inactivated vaccines in which virus particles are destroyed while still being highly effective in creating an immune response. Conversely, live attenuated vaccines allow for a replication of viruses without the need of creating a strong immune response which lowers the chances of the host contracting a disease.
Recombinant Protein Vaccines
Recombinant protein vaccines contain certain proteins from the astrovirus and With the specific proteins recombined, the immune system is stimulated, generating a response. This technology allows the creation of antigens that may be given for immunization without the dangers of using live or inactivated viruses. For instance, the viral capsid proteins have been used in vaccine development because they are known to elicit neutralizing antibodies. This strategy has promise for cross-protection against various serotypes of astroviruses.
The prowess displayed by mRNA vaccines on a range of infectious agents including SARS-CoV-2 has redefined the prospects in astrovirus vaccine development. The way mRNA vaccines function is by transferring some pieces of viral mRNA which codes for specific antigens into the cells of the host so that the cells produce the respective proteins and there is an immune response. This provides room to reduce the timelines in the development of a vaccine and to modify the approach in line with changing requirements of the virus.
Therapeutics Development for Astrovirus Infection
Antiviral Compounds
Nitazoxanide, which is a broad spectrum anti-infective agent, has shown some in vitro and in vivo efficacy against astro viruses. It interferes with viral reproduction by targeting a point between entry and uncoating, and after the synthesis of structural proteins.
Immunomodulatory Therapies
Considering the contribution of the immune system to the control of astrovirus infection, immunomodulatory therapies focus on augmenting or modulating the immune response of the host to the virus. This can be achieved with interferons, cytokines or immune modulators that bolster the body against astroviruses.
Our Services
We provide a wide array of services that fit the need of creating suitable vaccines and therapies for the treatment of astrovirus infections. We are proficient in:
- Designing and developing antiviral subunit vaccines which aim at the main antigenic determinants of the astroviruses.
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Creation of nucleic acid vaccines which make use of newest advances within molecular biology.
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Development of antiviral substances that block the replication of the astrovirus at different steps of the viral cycle.
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Development of immunomodulating therapies which enhance the immune reaction of the host cells against an astrovirus infection.
Utilizing our sophisticated platforms, we offer all inclusives for the designing of therapeutic agents and vaccines against astrovirus infection. To learn more, you can click on the link below.
Disease Models
- Murine Models: the mice were experimentally infected with murine astrovirus (MuAstV) isolated from immunocompromised mice.
- Turkey Poult Models: turkey poults were orally infected with turkey astrovirus strain 2 (TAstV-2)
Our rigorous preclinical research services focus on evaluating the safety and efficacy of vaccine candidates and antiviral agents. We employ various animal models to assess immune responses, viral load reductions, and overall clinical outcomes, ensuring that our candidates meet the highest standards before progressing to clinical trials. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Hargest Virginia, et al. "Astrovirus replication is inhibited by nitazoxanide in vitro and in vivo." Journal of virology 94.5 (2020): 10-1128.
- Hargest, Virginia, et al. "Human astroviruses: a tale of two strains." Viruses 13.3 (2021): 376.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
