Nih Awards $3.4 Million To Support Research On Crimean-congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, aliases CCHFV, is simply a biosafety level 4 pathogen and a Category A bioterrorism agent, causing terrible viral hemorrhagic fever with mortality rates reaching up to 40%. Already endemic successful Africa, nan Balkans, nan Middle East, and overmuch of Asia, nan microorganism has precocious expanded to Western Europe, carried by ticks connected migratory birds. There is presently nary approved vaccine aliases circumstantial antiviral therapy for CCHFV.

Scott Pegan, a professor of biomedical sciences astatine nan University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, has now been awarded a assistance from nan National Institutes of Health of astir $3.4 cardinal complete 5 years to lead an world study focused connected processing protective antibodies against CCHFV.

Designated a privilege pathogen by nan World Health Organization and nan National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, CCHFV is considered nan reference microorganism for nan nairovirus genus, which includes emerging pathogens specified arsenic Benji, Songling, Wetland, Yezo, and nan Pacific Coast tick nairovirus.

"The accelerated geographic dispersed and severity of CCHFV infections telephone for urgent, coordinated investigation efforts," said Pegan, nan main interrogator connected nan multi-institutional task that began this month. "This task will place broadly protective antibody candidates that tin beryllium developed into imaginable therapies."

The investigation brings together an interdisciplinary and world squad to tackle 1 of nan world's astir vulnerable emerging viral threats. The squad includes co-principal interrogator Dr. Mohammad Sajadi, a professor of medicine astatine nan University of Maryland School of Medicine; and co-investigators Aura Garrison and Joseph Golden, who are investigation microbiologists astatine nan U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, a long-time leader successful hemorrhagic fever microorganism research.

The task will study survivors of CCHFV successful Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Uganda to find antibodies that protect against nan virus. The squad will besides research really nan immune strategy fights nan microorganism and activity to create monoclonal antibody treatments that are effective against different strains for early testing. A monoclonal antibody is simply a type of lab-made macromolecule that mimics nan immune system's expertise to conflict harmful viruses aliases bacteria.

By focusing connected non-traditional viral targets, our attack could lead to new, life-saving therapeutics and thief found a model for addressing early nairovirus outbreaks."

Scott Pegan, professor of biomedical sciences, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

Other partners connected nan task see scientists astatine nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Hitit University successful Turkey, and South Kazakhstan Medical Academy.