Avid Bioservices Inc (CDMO)

[freethemice]

Interesting recent developments with Dengue Virus. Dengue fever sweeps India. Dengue vaccine fails in trial.
Paper shows that the Dengue virus uses receptors for PS on the surface of host cells to gain entry.
Binding the PS on the virions with PGN401 (Bavituximab) or PGN632 might then block the entry of the virus.

The TIM and TAM Families of Phosphatidylserine Receptors Mediate Dengue Virus Entry.
http://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/retrieve/pii/S1931312812003046
From the Discussion section
The present study adds significant insights into the molecular
interactions that occur between DV and the host cell during viral
entry. We show that TIM and TAM proteins, two receptor families
involved in apoptotic cell recognition and clearance, mediate DV
infection. TIM- and TAM-mediated enhancement of virus infection
is dependent on PtdSer associated with DV particles. This
supports a model by which DV use a strategy of ‘‘apoptotic
mimicry’’ to infect target cells (Laliberte and Moss, 2009; Mercer
and Helenius, 2008).
[snip]
We reveal an unexpected role for PtdSer during DV infection.
Our data suggest that PtdSer is displayed on the surface of DV.
particles and is important for TIM- and TAM-mediated infection.
[snip]
TIM and TAM proteins mediate the entry of other viruses
(Feigelstock et al., 1998; Kondratowicz et al., 2011; Morizono
et al., 2011; Shimojima et al., 2012, 2006). AXL and TIM-1 are
receptors for Ebola virus, which, like DV, infects a broad range
of cell types and causes hemorrhagic fever (Kondratowicz
et al., 2011; Shimojima et al., 2006). TIM-1-mediated Ebola infection
depends on a direct interaction between the viral glycoprotein
GP through residues outside the MILIBS (Kondratowicz
et al., 2011), indicating that DV and Ebola virus may use distinct
TIM-1 regions. A recent study also identified Gas6 and ProS as
‘‘bridging factors’’ that link PtdSer expressed on the viral envelope
of lentiviral pseudotypes and vaccinia virus to AXL expressed
on the target cell (Morizono et al., 2011). Collectively,
these data suggest that TIM and TAM facilitation of viral infection
may represent a general mechanism exploited by viruses that
incorporate PtdSer in their membrane for optimal infection.


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Remember the Nature Medicine paper from Dec 2008 which showed how bavi could cure guinea pigs
infected with Pichinde virus. I suggest this may also be possible for Dengue fever, for which there is no treatment.
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v14/n12/abs/nm.1885.html

As Dengue Fever Sweeps India, a Slow Response Stirs Experts’ Fears
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/world/asia/alarm-over-indias-dengue-fever-epidemic.html?ref=health

In a Setback, Sanofi’s Dengue Fever Vaccine Falls Short of Its Goal
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/health/a-dengue-vaccine-falls-short-of-expectations.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever