Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a small, non-enveloped, single stranded DNA virus mostly associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in children. Leveraging our company's profound proficiency in the realm of vaccine and therapy development, we are diligently exploring these avenues to drive progress in the field of HBoV vaccines and therapies.
Introduction to Human Bocavirus Infection
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a virus part of the Parvoviridae family, which was first described in 2005. It has been associated with respiratory diseases in the pediatric population and can be found in respiratory and stool specimens. The virus is widespread and exists both mild and severe forms and is known to affect people in the lungs, the intestines or even the nervous systems. It is classified into four distinct genotypes (HBoV1-4) which are distinguished by their genetic variants, which may also be linked to HBoV pathogenicity.
Fig.1 Genomic organization of human bocaviruses. (Guido M., et al., 2016)
Vaccine Development for Human Bocavirus Infection
Current available HBoV vaccines have not been availed on the market. Vaccine ingredients can get quite complicated since multiple genotypes exist and each one demands its own immunogenic response. There are various research programs being implemented to identify vaccine candidates that are suitable to the genetic and proteomic characteristics of the virus.
- Subunit Vaccines: These vaccines mostly use some parts of HBoV viral proteins to invoke an immune response. The aim of such research is to target the viral capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 and use them as antigens.
- Virus like Particle (VLP) Vaccines: This VLP vaccine is designed to look like a virus but does not contain any of its genetic material and hence, should be safe to use. Considering this alone improves the possibility of making an HBoV vaccine, since the approach should elicit a good immune response without causing any infection.
- mRNA Vaccines: Considering the use of mRNA technology against other viral infections, it is likely that this would be rn mRNA anti-HBoVcan be applied and adapted for HBoV. The cells will receive mRNA encoding the viral proteins and produce them as antigens, which will then elicit an immune response. This is a new physiotherapeutic in search of a vaccine for HBoV.
Therapeutics Development for Human Bocavirus Infection
Antiviral Drugs
Considering the scant understanding of the virus cycle combined with the absence of a dependable in vitro replication system, discovering active antiviral agents is problematic. Yet, there is the possibility of discovering new antiviral molecules that either inhibit HBoV replication or alter pathogenesis, thanks to the rapid development of molecular biology and drug screening technologies.
Immunomodulatory Therapies
Immunomodulatory therapy holds promise as a modality in therapeutics given the immunosuppressed can be severely affected by HBoV and that is why there is a need for such further therapy. These therapies are designed to boost the immune response of the host to help eradicate the virus or, alternatively, to mitigate the immunopathological damage that may result from the infection.
Our Services
As specialists in the development of HBoV vaccines and therapies, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at overcoming the difficulties arising from this acute viral infection. Our team of experts in the areas of virology and immunology strive towards the latest research in relation to HBoV infections and therapies using the latest approaches within the field.
- HBoV1 Infection Animal Model Development
- HBoV2 Animal Model Development
- HBoV3 Infection Animal Model Development
- HBoV4 Infection Animal Model Development
The preclinical research stage plays a pivotal role in the progression of novel vaccines and therapies. Services provided include a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at assessing the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of HBoV vaccine candidates and therapeutic agents. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Guido, Marcello, et al. "Human bocavirus: current knowledge and future challenges." World journal of gastroenterology 22.39 (2016): 8684.
- Lee, Han Na, et al. "Human bocavirus infection in adults: clinical features and radiological findings." Korean Journal of Radiology 20.7 (2019): 1226-1235.
- Trapani, Sandra, et al. "Human bocavirus in childhood: a true respiratory pathogen or a "Passenger" virus? A comprehensive review." Microorganisms 11.5 (2023): 1243.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
