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Project Description

Please note that we are a research service provider, not a pharmacy or clinic, so we are unable to see patients and do not offer diagnostic and treatment services for individuals.

Hendra Virus Infection

HeV, short for Hendra virus, is a virus with single strand RNA structure enclosed in an envelope. It is a part of the Henipavirus genus which belongs in the Paramyxoviridae family. At our company, we are dedicated to pioneering innovative solutions for Hendra virus infection through our comprehensive vaccine and therapy development services.

Introduction to Hendra Virus Infection

Hendra virus (HeV) is a highly zoonotic virus that is highly pathogenic and belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and specifically to the Henipavirus Virus species. Hendra virus was first discovered in 1994 during an outbreak in Australia affecting horses and has been known to cause necrotizing respiratory sickness and equine encephalitis. HeV naturally persists in Pteropus fruit bats which are found in many geographical regions prone to outbreaks. Humans usually get infected with HeV through direct contact with infected horses or their bodily fluids and hence form the target population for HeV control measures.

Schematic diagram of the transmission of Hendra virus. Fig.1 Transmission of Hendra virus. (Ashraf H., et al., 2023)

Vaccine Development for Hendra Virus Infection

Vaccine development for HeV has been one of the advances made in the fight against the disease. In Australia, the first-ever vaccine using the recombinant canarypox virus vector was certified for use on horses in 2012. The vaccine developed in Australia specifically targets viral glycoprotein G which assists the viral particles in getting into the host cells. The vaccine has been able to reduce viral shedding and clinical signs of the disease in horses and thus the chances of zoonosis to humans are low.

The practical field trials and individual case studies have regarded that the immunised horses show a good level of neutralising antibodies and fairly protects them from HeV infection. The successful processes of the vaccine have helped contain HeV outbreaks and also lower cases in the regions where the disease was endemic.

Therapeutics Development for Hendra Virus Infection

Antiviral Therapies

Antiviral therapy development for HeV has remained a challenge owing to the rarified amount of cases and extreme risk of possible fatality brought about by the virus. In finding viable therapeutics, Ribavirin, one of the broad-spectrum antivirals, has been useful, although there is reason to believe it at least diminishes infection severity if used in the initial stages of the disease. However, the notion of its clinical applicability still remains unproven fully.

Monoclonal Antibodies

The human monoclonal antibody m120.4 which targets HeV glycoprotein G has been effective in nonhuman primate models of infection. m120.4 therapeutic was found to protect the primates against effectual HeV infection, thereby showcasing the ability of monoclonal antibodies to neutralize viruses and prevent further development of the disease.

Our Services

Our services in vaccine development focus on new viral vectors and immunogenic formulations. Outside of vaccine development, our company is working on the discovery and development of antiviral drugs for Hendra virus infection.

Vaccine Development

Therapeutic Development

Disease Models

HeV Infection Guinea Pig Models
HeV Infection Pig Modes
HeV Infection Horse Models
HeV Infection Cat Models
HeV Infection Ferret Models
HeV Infection Non-human Primate Models

The preclinical research services provided are tailored to bolster the advancement of vaccines and therapeutic agents targeting Hendra Virus. Our cutting-edge facilities are outfitted for both in vivo and in vitro investigations, enabling a thorough assessment of candidate products. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

References

Ashraf, Haseeb, et al. "Hendra Virus in Public Health Perspective." Biological Times (2023).
Guillaume-Vasselin, Vanessa, et al. "Protection from Hendra virus infection with Canarypox recombinant vaccine." npj Vaccines 1.1 (2016): 1-8.

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.