Plasmids rescuing recombinant syncytial virus for RSV research and vaccine development.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Infections often lead to hospitalizations and, in rare cases or underdeveloped countries, can result in death. RSV-related illnesses amongst the elderly are also on the rise. Currently, there are no effective therapeutics or vaccines for RSV. Drug and vaccine research has prompted the need for more diverse strategies for vaccine development.
Dr. Moore has generated helper plasmids expressing RSV N (nucleocapsid), P (phosphoprotein), L (large polymerase subunit) and M2 (matrix 2 ORF 1) of the A2 strain of RSV. These proteins direct RNA replication of cDNA encoded RSV minigenomes and can be used to define mutations into this pathogen. These cDNAs are optimized for human codon bias in order to increase their expression in mammalian cells. The helper plasmids also allow for expression and recombination in vero cells. When used in conjunction with the RSV bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) developed in Dr. Moore’s lab, this tool may be used in reverse engineering of the virus, as well as vaccine research and development.
Plasmids have been generated and are available.