West Nile Virus: is a vaccine needed?
Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic Flavivirus that was associated with sporadic outbreaks of meningoencephalitis in Africa and the Middle East until 1999, when a more virulent strain emerged in the US that caused thousands of infections among humans and horses, with reported fatality rates between 10 and 50%. Although the epidemiology of WNV is changing into a more endemic pattern in the US, and the incidence of neuroinvasive disease is decreasing, the long-term effects of resolved WNV infections in humans, characterized as persistent movement disorders and various functional disabilities, are a significant cause of morbidity. In addition, the horse industry is also negatively impacted by WNV infections, resulting in significant economic losses. Together with the fact that WNV is a potential bioterrorism agent, these factors suggest that there is a need for the development of a safe and effective vaccine against WNV. The increased understanding of WNV pathogenesis and correlates of protection enables the rational design of such a vaccine. Several experimental vaccines have been tested in preclinical models and some have undergone clinical trials. The challenges related to the development of cheaper, safer and more effective vaccines for use in both humans and horses are likely to be overcome by new technological developments in the field of vaccinology.
Publication Date: 2010-01-30 PubMed ID: 20112163
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Summary
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This research paper discusses the need for a vaccine to combat West Nile Virus—a disease impacting both humans and horses—given its potential long-term effects and damage to economies, and explores the development journey.
Overview of West Nile Virus
- The research focuses on West Nile virus (WNV), a virus that primarily affects the nervous system and was initially associated with infrequent outbreaks of meningoencephalitis—an inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes—in Africa and the Middle East.
- In 1999, a much more aggressive strain of this virus emerged in the U.S., leading to thousands of human and horse infections. The fatality rate varied between 10% and 50%.
Current Scenario and Effects
- The study notes that while the epidemiology of WNV is changing, with a more endemic pattern emerging in the U.S. and decreasing incidence of neuroinvasive disease, the long-term effects of WNV on those who have recovered are a significant cause of concern.
- These longer-term effects include persistent movement disorders and various functional disabilities.
- WNV also severely impacts the horse industry, leading to substantial economic losses.
Need for a WNV Vaccine
- The report suggests that given the severe impacts of WNV on human health and economy, in addition to its potential as a bioterrorism agent, there is a need for the development of a safe and effective vaccine against WNV.
- The increasing understanding of WNV’s pathogenesis—its mechanism of development—and correlates of protection allows for the rational design of a vaccine.
Vaccine Development Challenges and Progress
- The paper discusses the testing of several experimental vaccines in preclinical models, with some even undergoing clinical trials.
- However, the path to developing cheaper, safer, and more effective vaccines, suitable for both humans and horses, comes with numerous challenges.
- Nevertheless, these challenges are expected to be overcome through new technological advancements in the field of vaccinology.
Cite This Article
APA
Martina BE, Koraka P, Osterhaus AD.
(2010).
West Nile Virus: is a vaccine needed?
Curr Opin Investig Drugs, 11(2), 139-146.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Virology, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bioterrorism
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- United States / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / prevention & control
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
- West Nile Virus Vaccines / administration & dosage
- West Nile Virus Vaccines / adverse effects
- West Nile virus / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Chen TH, Hu CC, Liao JT, Lee YL, Huang YW, Lin NS, Lin YL, Hsu YH. Production of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antigens in Plants Using Bamboo Mosaic Virus-Based Vector. Front Microbiol 2017;8:788.
- Acharya D, Bai F. An Overview of Current Approaches Toward the Treatment and Prevention of West Nile Virus Infection. Methods Mol Biol 2016;1435:249-91.
- Chen Q. Plant-made vaccines against West Nile virus are potent, safe, and economically feasible. Biotechnol J 2015 May;10(5):671-80.
- Maximova OA, Speicher JM, Skinner JR, Murphy BR, St Claire MC, Ragland DR, Herbert RL, Pare DR, Moore RM, Pletnev AG. Assurance of neuroattenuation of a live vaccine against West Nile virus: a comprehensive study of neuropathogenesis after infection with chimeric WN/DEN4Δ30 vaccine in comparison to two parental viruses and a surrogate flavivirus reference vaccine. Vaccine 2014 May 30;32(26):3187-97.
- Amanna IJ, Slifka MK. Current trends in West Nile virus vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014 May;13(5):589-608.
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