Encephalomyelitis, Equine

Einstein-Led Research Consortium Awarded Five-Year Grant for $14 M per Year BRONX, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine has received a five-year, $14 million per year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to participate in a broad national effort to develop "plug-and-play" vaccines and antibody-based therapies against a wide range of emerging viruses. The grant is part of NIAID's new Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) Network, which was announced earlier today. Continue Reading Kartik Chandran, Ph.D. "COVID-19 taught us a lot about pandemic preparedness, and we want to make sure we build on what worked well," said Kartik Chandran, Ph.D., the principal investigator on the grant and professor of microbiology & immunology, the Gertrude and David Feinson Chair in Medicine, and the Harold and Muriel Block Faculty Scholar in Virology at Einstein. "One of the key lessons from the COVID pandemic is that having existing research on a viral family allows scientists to develop vaccines and therapeutics for a particular virus much more quickly. In our project, we plan to create a base of critical knowledge about groups of similar viruses and then—should a related "virus X" pose a health threat—develop specific countermeasures as quickly as possible to save as many lives as possible." The Einstein-led consortium, called PROVIDENT (Prepositioning Optimized Strategies for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Against Diverse Emerging Infectious Threats), will link 13 teams in academia, government, and industry that will conduct four projects designed to: Discover and analyze virus-host interactions and the molecular mechanisms involved in viral disease; Design proteins to elicit antiviral immune responses and then evaluate and optimize those responses; Create "road maps" for quickly developing RNA vaccines against microbes with pandemic potential; and Map the antibody responses observed in people infected with viruses and use this knowledge to design vaccines and therapeutics. PROVIDENT builds on NIAID's 2021 Pandemic Preparedness Plan, a sweeping federal program designed to address the uncertainties inherent in safeguarding global health from communicable diseases. The two-part plan focuses on "priority pathogens" and "prototype pathogens"—basically, the knowns and unknowns of the viral world. Priority pathogens include viruses that are known to cause significant human illness or death, such as dengue virus and Ebola virus. Prototype pathogens—the focus of PROVIDENT—are representative viruses in families that have the potential to cause significant human disease. "We plan to select and study one or two prototype viruses from each family and then develop countermeasures that will work against as many viruses within that family as possible," said Dr. Chandran. "That strategy of quickly responding to an emerging virus with an approach and tools that have already been developed is what we mean by 'plug and play'." A part of PROVIDENT's strategy will be to carry out "sprints" in which countermeasures that are developed for the prototype pathogens will be tested against other viruses in the same family to see how well they work and to improve them. PROVIDENT will concentrate on three virus families: nairoviruses, transmitted by ticks (e.g., Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus), hantaviruses, borne by rodents and other small mammals (e.g., Sin Nombre virus and other agents causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome), and paramyxoviruses, borne by bats and other mammals, including domesticated animals (e.g., Nipah virus). "This approach allowed researchers to move quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Chandran. "What we had learned from previous outbreaks caused by coronaviruses, including SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] in 2002 and MERS [Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome] a decade later, helped us create diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19." "Recent outbreaks of mpox, Nipah virus, and Eastern equine encephalitis, among other viral infections, underscore the need for an even broader preparedness program," said Eva Mittler, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Einstein and leader of one of the PROVIDENT components. "We don't know what virus will cause the next pandemic." "The overarching goal of PROVIDENT and the other centers in the ReVAMPP Network is to coordinate their efforts to increase our odds of mounting a timely and effective response," added Dr. Chandran. Projects and cores in PROVIDENT will be led by: Kartik Chandran, PhD., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY Eva Mittler, Ph.D., Einstein Jason McLellan, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, TX Courtney Cohen, Ph.D., U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD (USAMRIID) John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX (HMRI) Eva Harris, Ph.D. University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA Stephanie Monticelli, Ph.D., USAMRIID Steven Bradfute, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM Andrew Herbert, Ph.D., USAMRIID Jesse Erasmus, Ph.D., HDT Bio, Seattle, WA Jimmy Gollihar, Ph.D., HMRI The following scientists and institutions will also play critical roles in PROVIDENT: Zachary Bornholdt, PhD., Eitr Biologics, Inc., San Diego, CA Daniel Boutz, Ph.D., HMRI Giorgi Chakhunashvili, Ph.D., National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia Catalina Florez, Ph.D., USAMRIID Bronwyn Gunn, Ph.D., Washington State University, Pullman, WA Andrew Horton, Ph.D., HMRI Amit Khandhar, Ph.D., HDT Bio Taishi Kimura, PhD., HDT Bio Jonathan Lai, Ph.D., Einstein Jodi McGill, Ph.D., Iowa State University, Ames, IA Crystal Moyer, Ph.D., Eitr Biologics Thomas Segall-Shapiro, Ph.D., HMRI Simone Sidoli, Ph.D., Einstein E. Taylor Stone, PhD., HDT Bio Francesca Taraballi, Ph.D., HMRI Cecilia Vial, Ph.D., Universidad del Desarollo, Santiago, Chile Pablo Vial, M.D., Universidad del Desarollo Zhongde Wang, Ph.D., Utah State University, Logan, UT Details of the PROVIDENT grant (1U19AI181977-01) issued by NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, can be found here. About Albert Einstein College of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2023-24 academic year, Einstein is home to 737 M.D. students, 209 Ph.D. students, 124 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and approximately 239 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2023, Einstein received more than $192 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in cancer, aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.edu, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and view us on YouTube. SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

~June 16 – 22 is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week; Fight the Bite~ TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Floridians and tourists flock outdoors in the Sunshine State during the summer months and may not realize that the world's deadliest animal is an ever-present uninvited guest. Mosquitoes, stealthy and virtually invisible, are enjoying the weather and thriving in every outdoor setting. And they bring a serious health risk with them, potentially carrying diseases like Dengue fever, Zika, malaria, West Nile virus and Equine Encephalitis. This week the Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) and its members - 67 mosquito control programs including 15 independent districts - are reminding the public to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the diseases they transmit. "The world's top mosquito control scientists and experts are in Florida, working 24/7 to control and mitigate the threat of disease," said Richard Weaver, President of the Florida Mosquito Control Association and Business Manager at the Anastasia Mosquito Control District in St. Johns County "Floridians know and understand the need to be vigilant about hurricanes and tropical storms, however we must also be vigilant about mosquitoes." That vigilance is heightened in Florida where the warm and wondrous tropical weather draws millions of visitors and thousands of new residents each year. Mosquitoes are drawn to our state for the same reasons. And this year is threatening to open the door for even more of these dangerous animals. Just this month, heavy rain and life-threatening floods drenched South Florida, leaving standing water throughout the region and providing the perfect habitat for mosquitoes to breed. And mosquitoes also enjoy the aftermath of hurricanes which creates immeasurable opportunities for mosquito breeding. So far three counties have already issued mosquito-borne illness advisories or alerts for local transmission of Dengue virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. And because weather experts are predicting there is an 85 percent chance of an above-average hurricane season with up to 25 named storms – mosquito control experts are already on high-alert. "Preparing for mosquitoes is similar to what Floridians do each hurricane season," said Dr. Jorge Rey, FMCA Vice President and professor at the University of Florida's Medical Entomology Laboratory. "Smart, precautionary measures can help reduce mosquitoes around your home and mitigate public health risks." The American Mosquito Control Association has a summary of those small measures, calling them the three D's of protection. Drain – Following a rain or storm, each household and property becomes a resort for mosquitoes looking for a place to lay her eggs. Mosquitoes only need a teaspoon of water to develop, so emptying even small accumulations of water outside can make a difference. Dress – Wear long sleeves and long pants that are light-colored and loose-fitting. These clothing choices are a deterrent to mosquitoes. Defend – Mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin and IR3535 are powerful shields against mosquitoes. If a more natural product is preferred, repellents containing Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are great options. Floridians are fortunate to have world-class scientists and professionals working to control mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. These scientists partner with each other and local health departments to share important news, resources, and scientific studies. They also stand ready to respond to any Floridian's request for local mosquito treatment. "Success is never final in controlling the countless mosquitoes in our state," said Weaver. "But Florida remains exceedingly safe and accessible to residents, businesses and visitors. Our state's economic and physical health depend on our incredible team of mosquito control scientists and highly trained professionals." For more information about the FMCA please click here. And for teachers and parents, the FMCA has resources to inform children about the science and background of mosquitoes and efforts to control them here. Contact: Alia Faraj-Johnson, 850-212-8317 SOURCE Florida Mosquito Control Association

Pictured: Syringe drawing from a series of vials/iStock, NikiLitov Danish biotech Bavarian Nordic announced on Wednesday, as part of its preliminary 2023 financial results, that it would halt any future work on its cancer vaccine program. According to Bavarian Nordic, its cancer vaccine TAEK-VAC has reached a stage where more investments are required. The company would also have faced stiff competition in the cancer vaccine space as big names such as BioNTech, Merck and Moderna are making progress on their respective cancer vaccines. The TAEK-VAC program will stop with no plans to invest in an immune-oncology vaccine. The company’s website details the TAEK-VAC vaccine, which sought to use the body’s immune system to find and eliminate cancer cells. A Phase I trial of the vaccine was ongoing with the first stage of the study completed while stage two was open for enrollment. Bavarian Nordic said it will instead focus on infectious diseases through “product improvements” and new vaccine development to stay competitive. The company is working on a vaccine for the chikungunya virus and equine encephalitis, a rare mosquito-borne disease. For its chikungunya vaccine, Bavarian Nordic is currently conducting a Phase III trial. The results, which were posted in August 2023, showed that 98% of patients who took the vaccine had a strong induction of chikungunya-inducing antibodies. In addition, 97% of patients in the study had antibodies induced within two weeks of vaccination. Separately, an equine encephalitis vaccine has finished a Phase I trial and is being developed via a contract with the U.S. government. Bavarian Nordic disclosed that the development costs were DKK 850 million ($149 million) in 2023, with nearly half of those costs related to its chickungunya program. Bavarian Nordic’s preliminary 2023 results show the company secured revenue of over DKK 7 billion ($1 billion) compared to 3.1 billion ($449 million) in 2022. The biotech said that the spike in revenue was caused by a rise in sales of smallpox/mpox vaccines following an outbreak in 2022 and growth in the travel health business after an acquisition last year. Tyler Patchen is a staff writer at BioSpace. You can reach him at tyler.patchen@biospace.com. Follow him on LinkedIn.