# Virology Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $220,350

## Abstract

Project Summary – Virology Core (Rice)
Development of a vaccine capable of eliciting a robust neutralizing antibody response against Zika
virus (ZIKV) while minimizing possible non-neutralizing antibodies that could cause enhancement of
related flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) will require an in-depth understanding of antibodies
with potently neutralization capacity. Focusing on the ZIKV envelope protein (E) we will utilize a
process of antibody discovery from ZIKV exposed individuals, structural characterization of the
neutralizing antibody — E epitope interaction, and design and testing of epitope-specific immunogens
for antibody elicitation and protection from ZIKV infection in a small animal model. This will require
assays for assessing the ability of antibodies to neutralize ZIKV and the related DENV, as well as
their potential to cause antibody-dependent enhancement of infection of these related viruses. The
Virology Core will generate luciferase-expressing reporter viral particles (RVPs) and characterized
virus stocks for ZIKV, and the four serotypes of DENV to facilitate the studies. Using cloned and
recombinantly expressed antibodies or sera from immunized mice (Project 1), the Virology Core will
perform high throughput assays to elucidate the neutralization and enhancement capacity.
Confirmatory detailed studies on samples of interest will be conducted with live virus. Live virus will
also be utilized in challenge and enhancement studies after vaccination in the murine model (Project
1) and for structural studies of select antibodies bound to the virus particle (Project 2). Based on
structural and biochemical studies of the antibody — epitope interaction (Project 2), RVPs coated
with ZIKV proteins containing specific mutations in E will be generated by the Virology Core and used
to test the epitope requirements for neutralization or enhancement. The resulting information will
inform immunogen design and testing (Projects 2 and 1) for experiments to elicit specific neutralizing
antibody responses. The need for a large number of quality controlled viral stocks and RVPs
representing ZIKV, the four serotypes of DENV, as well as epitope mutants requires a dedicated
Virology Core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982203
- **Project number:** 5P01AI138938-03
- **Recipient organization:** ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Charles M Rice
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $220,350
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982203

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982203, Virology Core (5P01AI138938-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982203. Licensed CC0.

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