Final Report Summary - MAJARVISCIG (A Single Dose, Cytomegalovirus-based Vaccine to Induce Heterosubtypic Protective Immunity to Influenza A Virus)
In the final reporting period, this phenomenon was examined in more detail, which required construction of an additional panel of MCMV-IA recombinants. Importantly, these new studies showed that normal levels of T cell responses are restored by using the MCMV-IA recombinants singly rather than as a mixture. Although the effect on protection is not yet known, this finding has impact both at the level of basic immunological mechanisms associated with CMV infection, as well as in terms of the translational development of this vaccine platform. Within the final reporting period, we also further developed the idea of conditionally-attenuation for inexpensive production of safe vaccines suited for production in low and middle income countries (LMICs). In terms of career development, results from this CIG-funded project have substantially increased my integration within the European scientific research community by providing critical preliminary data to support funded grant applications. By providing the environment for creation of the idea of conditional attenuation, the CIG also provided the conceptual framework that has served as the basis for multiple additional projects, both funded and currently under review. These projects together with the CIG have served to further increase my profile in the area of herpesvirus vaccine development resulting in my further integration (more information regarding these collaborations as well as outreach activities can be obtained at www.thejarvislab.com). The CIG also contributed to the funding of a PhD student who successfully completed their degree in 2017 and training of a post-doctoral fellow. The impact of this project has been further increased by the recent spin-out of a commercial entity (The Vaccine Group; TVG), which has the goal of commercial development of herpesvirus-based vaccines (see: http://www.thejarvislab.com/research/). This company is underpinned by four patent applications which were submitted during the CIG funding period.