Novel Rift Valley Fever Virus Vaccines

This invention relates to recombinant Rift Valley fever (RVF) viruses containing deletions in one or more virulence genes. The recombinant RVF viruses, generated using a plasmid-based reverse genetics system, can be used as vaccines to prevent RVF infection in livestock and humans. The recombinant RVF viruses grow to high titers, provide protective immunity following a single injection, and allow for the differentiation between vaccinated animals and animals infected with wild-type RVF virus.

Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Delivery-Vehicles Related to Novel Phlebovirus

This CDC invention relates to primers and probes that specifically hybridize with Heartland virus (HRTLDV), a unique member of the genus Phlebovirus. It further relates to polyclonal antibodies specific for HRTLDV proteins. Serological detection assays using HRTLDV nucleic acid molecules, proteins, probes, primers, and antibodies are provided. Importantly, the HRTLDV genome can be engineered using reverse genetics to be attenuated, allowing development of a vaccine for other viruses within the Phlebovirus genus or Bunyaviridae family.

Novel Recombinant Rabies Vaccine Also Capable of Immunocontraception

This invention relates to a recombinant, attenuated rabies vaccine that is also capable of inhibiting reproductive fertility. An Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) rabies vaccine backbone, combined with a reproductive-specific protein, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or the sperm-binding zona-pellucida-glycoprotein-3 (ZP3) receptor, allows reduction in both rabies transmission and uncontrolled reproduction in stray animals. The ERA rabies vaccine backbone has previously shown strong efficacy in animal studies.

Novel Live-Attenuated Rabies Vaccine

The critical feature of this technology is the Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) rabies whole genome DNA sequence. With the availability of the entire rabies genome, a recombinant vaccine can be developed using reverse genetics. Using this technology, CDC researchers have developed a recombinant, live-attenuated vaccine shown to confer protection against lethal doses of live, street-rabies virus in multiple survival studies. This vaccine offers better protection than traditional inactivated vaccinations, as demonstrated in co-infection studies.

Antigen-capture Electrochemiluminescent Assay for Determining Rabies Vaccine Potency

CDC researchers developed a more efficient method of assessing rabies vaccine potency using an antigen-capture electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assay. This assay utilizes SULFO-NHS-Ester labeled murine monoclonal antibodies to quantify glycoprotein concentration, which is an indicator of vaccine potency. Currently, the potency of rabies vaccines is determined by the effective-dose (ED50) mouse study evaluation method, which is more than 50 years old.

Recombinant Pan-Lyssavirus for Use in Rabies and Broad-Lyssavirus Vaccination

CDC researchers have developed recombinant lyssaviruses that can be used for the development of an improved, broad-spectrum vaccine against several rabies genotypes. Lyssaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that cause rabies and rabies-like diseases in mammals. Currently, there are commercially available vaccines that are considered to be effective against infections from a single viral phylogroup; however, these vaccines confer little or no protection against viruses outside of the phylogroup.

Reduced Virulence Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus for Vaccine Development

This invention relates to a genetically modified hemorrhagic fever virus that can be used as an effective live vaccine agent. Hemorrhagic fever evades the human immune response using the viral ovarian tumor domain (vOTU) protease, which inhibits critical host-immunity functions. The present genetically modified virus has a vOTU protease with decreased ability to remove ubiquitin (Ub) and ISG15 tags from proteins in cells it infects. Thus, the virulence is reduced, creating an immunogenic and non-pathogenic virus for use as a live vaccine against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus.

Full-Length cDNA Clone Representing the Consensus Sequence of the RNA Genome of a Human Norovirus (strain MD145-12) That Encodes Biologically Active Proteins

The invention provides for a full-length cloned cDNA copy of the RNA genome of a predominant norovirus strain (Genogroup II.4) designated MD145-12 that was associated with human gastrointestinal illness. The noroviruses, which were formerly known as "Norwalk-like" viruses are estimated to cause 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis in the USA each year. The virus has been designated into category B of the CDC biodefense-related priority pathogens because it can be used as an agent of bioterrorism.

Chikungunya Vaccine License Receives LES Deal of Distinction Award

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The NIH Technology Transfer Program was honored with its record 7th “Deal of Distinction Award” at the 2025 Licensing Executives Society Annual Meeting.  This award was given to NIH and its licensee Bavarian Nordic for the deal that led to the new chikungunya virus vaccine Vimkunya®. Vimkunya received FDA approval on February 14, 2025, as the first virus-like particle (VLP) single-dose chikungunya vaccine and the first chikungunya vaccine for individuals over the age of 12. .

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