Project description
A vaccine against West Nile virus
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease, affecting millions worldwide. While most cases are asymptomatic, a small percentage develop severe neurological complications, particularly in older or immunocompromised individuals, with no available treatment. To address this issue, the EU-funded LWNVIVAT project aims to develop a safety prophylactic vaccine. By leveraging cutting-edge computational tools, the project aims to design immunogens that elicit potent and diverse neutralising responses against WNV. These efforts will focus on minimising antibody-dependent enhancement while promoting long-lasting T cell immunity. Innovative approaches, including Virus Like Particles and antibody adjuvants, will enhance vaccine effectiveness. Success will also pave the way for vaccines against other flaviviruses. LWNVIVAT also aims to revolutionise vaccine development against mosquito-borne diseases.
Objective
West Nile virus (WNV) is considered one of the most widespread mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. While most of WNV infected individuals are asymptomatic, 1% of WNV-infected individuals develop a severe illness that affects the central nervous system, causing encephalitis or meningitis and eventually the death. The case-fatality rate notoriously increases in immunosuppressed individuals and in population over 60 years old (up to 30%) and, to date, there is no prophylaxis or treatment for this disease. Here, we aim to develop a safety prophylactic WNV vaccine that cover WNV diversity and protect elderly individuals by promoting the generation of potent and long-lasting neutralizing humoral and T cell responses, with limited or no cross-reactive activity against other flaviviruses. If success, the present proposal may guide the development of effective vaccines against other viruses, particularly flaviviruses.
Methods: We will use outstanding computational tools to design novel Envelope-based immunogens that cover the global WNV genetic variability. Immunogens will be designed for eliciting highly-specific neutralizing humoral responses, with limited potential to mediate antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection or disease. In addition, we will also seek for T cell responses that work synergistically with antibodies to generate a long-lasting and polyfunctional protective anti-WNV immune response. Besides a classical and highly effective recombinant protein-based vaccine approach, we will explore novel and innovative strategies based on Virus Like Particles, and the use of antibodies as adjuvants, that may improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. For immunogenicity analysis we have designed a complete set of assays that encompasses from in vitro testing, using human immune cells (tonsil and PBMCs) to in vivo evaluation using both young and old mice, and a complementary swine model.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.5 - Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for Health and Care, including personalised medicine
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HORIZON.2.1.4 - Infectious Diseases, including poverty-related and neglected diseases
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-HLTH-2023-DISEASE-03
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08916 Barcelona
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.