The Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biology (LECB) at the National Cancer Institute, NIH is seeking a collaborative partner under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop vaccines and therapeutics using photoactive compounds that selectively inactivate viruses. These non-toxic photoactive agents accumulate in the membrane bilayer of the viral envelope and upon irradiation with light will bind to the proteins and lipids in this domain thereby blocking fusion of the virus with target cells. Conformational integrity is retained preserving the immunogenicity of the agent. Development of vaccines and therapeutics utilizing this technology could be directed towards HIV or other viruses of interest to the public health or biodefense efforts. Potential Commercial Areas: • Vaccines and therapeutics for HIV, SARS, Asian Bird Flu, and other viruses of interest to the public health • Vaccines and therapeutics for biodefense efforts. Main Advantages of Technology/Invention: • Agents are non-toxic. • Conformational integrity is retained preserving agent’s immunogenicity. • Inactivates fusion activity and thus blocks entry of the virus into target cells. • Can be generally applied to all membrane containing pathogens including bacteria and parasites. Current State of Development: • Compounds have been identified and protocols have been developed for the inactivation of HIV-1 and SIV. • The inactivated HIV is completely non-infectious in and reacts as well as the live virus with three anti HIV-1 broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. • The mechanism of inactivation is the elimination of fusion activity. All studies were carried out in vitro using cultured cell lines. Further R&D Required: • Develop and test vaccines against viral agents. • Pre-clinical and animal testing of HIV/SIV vaccines in non-human primate models. • Develop therapeutics to treat viral infection and AIDS. • Organic synthesis of lipid analogues and probes for biological membranes. Patent Status: • DHHS Reference No. E-303-2003/0-US-01 Submission Dates: • Interested parties should provide a 1-2 page statement describing their organization and scientific capabilities by February 18, 2005. • All responses received by the deadline will be considered. If no CRADA partner is selected from the initial responses received by the deadline, this CRADA opportunity may remain open until a CRADA partner is identified. Contact Information: • CRADA Contact: Jeffrey W. Thomas, Ph.D., NCI Technology Transfer Branch 1003 W. 7th Street #500, Frederick, MD 21701 Phone: (301) 846-5465, Fax: (301) 846-6820, E-mail:
[email protected]. • Licensing Contact: Susan Ano, Ph.D., NIH Office of Technology Transfer Phone: (301) 435-5515, E-mail:
[email protected]. Additional Information: LECB investigates mechanisms whereby animal viruses enter human cells, and thereby identifies potential targets for therapeutic drugs. The laboratory has expertise in the following areas: • Cell Biology of Viral Entry • Biophysics Of Membrane Fusion Mediated By Viral And Cellular Proteins And Lipids • Isolation of Hydrophobic Membrane Proteins and Identification by Mass Spectrometry. • Photo-Sensitized Labeling and Cross-Linking of Membrane Proteins • Lipid and sphingolipid biochemistry; Liposome technology • Fluorescent techniques including spectrofluorometry, video-enhanced fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.