# RP1: Antigen design and testing of arenavirus and nairovirus

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2024 · $4,640,498

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – RP1 (Antigen Design and Testing Of Arenavirus And Nairovirus
Vaccines)
The viral order Bunyavirales contains several high priority human pathogens. Notably, Arenaviridae and
Nairoviridae families contain viruses which cause severe hemorrhagic diseases in humans across the world
with mortality rates up to 60% and some are associated with significant, long-term sequelae in survivors. Of
these, rodent borne arenaviruses – Lassa (LASV), Lujo, Chapare, Guanarito, Junin and Machupo viruses and
one tickborne Nairovirus-Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus- are identified as NIAID Category A
pathogens due to ease of dissemination or transmission person-to-person, production of significant morbidity
and mortality, the potential for major public health impact, and due to the requirement for special action for public
health preparedness. Threats to public health are further heightened by the lack of internationally approved
vaccines to address threats of natural epidemics as well as the potential bio-weaponization of these viruses. To
address this unmet need, PABVAX RP1 will leverage combined expertise in high-containment virology,
immunology, and biological product development, to develop arenavirus and nairovirus research tools and
vaccine approaches using prototype members of each viral group which can be adapted across each viral family
using a “plug-and-play” approach. Much of the work developing vaccines for these viruses has relied on
isolates derived over 40 years ago, recent advances in viral reverse for these viral families is making vaccine
testing of emerging isolates more feasible by improving access. Vaccine development for most arenaviruses and
nairoviruses has centered on the understanding of the critical role for viral glycoproteins (GP) and nucleoproteins
(NP) to drive natural immunity. We have recently successfully engineered a recombinant, stabilized prefusion
LASV GPe to act as an antigenic mimic of viral surface displayed GP and found this trimeric GPe alone, co-
delivered with NP, or NP subunits alone, can protect guinea pigs against lethal challenge by LASV underscoring
the value of these antigens as vaccine components. Subunit vaccines are prime candidates for alternative
vaccination approaches like microneedle patches (MNP). MNP coupled antigens and adjuvants directly interact
with the potently immunoresponsive cutaneous microenvironments using dissolvable MNPs to elicit robust and
long-lasting protective immunity against the target pathogen. The importance of humoral immunity for affording
potent protection or treatment against viral infections cannot be understated as evidenced by the recent success
using monoclonal antibody therapies to treat Ebola virus disease or COVID-19, yet little is known for the potential
for pre-exposure prophylactic (PREP) administration of antibody therapies and what kind of prophylactic windows
are possible. In this proposal, we will develop protective protein-based subunit...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10862502
- **Project number:** 1U19AI181930-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert W Cross
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $4,640,498
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-30 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10862502

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10862502, RP1: Antigen design and testing of arenavirus and nairovirus (1U19AI181930-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10862502. Licensed CC0.

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