The Need

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major causative agent of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. It is estimated that over 90% of outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis are caused by noroviruses. Healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals, are the most commonly reported place for HuNoV outbreaks in the U.S. and other industrialized countries. For these reasons, HuNoV is classified as a NIAID Category B priority biodefense pathogen. Each year in the U.S., HuNoV causes about 21 million illnesses and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths (CDC). There is only one known clinical-stage norovirus vaccine under investigation at the present time. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop an effective vaccine against human norovirus.

The Technology

The Ohio State University researchers, led by Dr. Jianrong Li, have developed a novel vectored vaccine for human norovirus. Development of an attenuated vaccine for HuNoV has not been previously possible due to an inability to replicate the virus in a cell culture. A vectored vaccine is able to overcome this obstacle. The vectored human norovirus vaccine is able to produce virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically and antigenically identical to native virons and triggered significantly higher immune responses compared to traditional non-replicating VLPs based vaccine candidates.

Commercial Applications

• Human Norovirus Vaccine Development
• Generation of HuNoV VLP in vitro
• Advancement in Vectored Vaccines Against Non-Cultivatable Foodborne Viruses

Benefits/Advantages

• The vectored vaccine is capable of producing bioreactor quantities to facilitate large scale purifications.

• The inoculation triggers significantly high level of HuNoV-specific humoral, mucosal, and cellular immune responses compared to traditional non-replicating virus-like particles (VLPs).

• Additionally, the technology stimulates long-lasting immune responses and is genetically stable.