Update on H7N9 (Shanghai 2013) and Rapid Vaccine Design by the team at EpiVax

Reports on H7N9 are increasing from individual case reports to “several” per day. Pigs and Chickens are still considered potential sources. Further geographic expansion has occurred (see graphic) suggesting that the disease would not be easily contained. The case mortality rate is high at 27-33% but the true denominator is not known. Links are active:

  • Latest on Pigs/Humans here
  • WHO Reporting site here
  • Geographic spread here

 

EpiVax H7N9 Vaccine Effort is ongoing: Last weekend, EpiVax performed an extremely rapid analysis of the H7N9 vaccine sequence that is associated with an increasing number of deaths in Shanghai, China (see more at this link). Our H7N9 vaccine is based on the genome sequences provided on GISAID. It has both conserved and unique (to the novel strain) components. The conserved components (T cell epitopes) would provide a memory response. The unique T cell epitopes would be specific for the emerging strain of H7N9 flu.

H7N9 Vaccine Efficacy: We have tools that can rapidly compare emergent (H7N9) virus and existing H7N9 vaccines (if any is available). This analysis can predict efficacy even if the vaccine doesn’t ‘match’ the emergent strain. We have experience doing this previously.

We are speaking with collaborators about testing the EpiVax H1N1 vaccine design in a range of formats. If you click this link, we’ll keep you apprised of our progress. We expect success, as we have a unique set of validated vaccine design tools and published proof of principle (see publications). We are also available to assist collaborators if there is a need immunoinformatics related to H7N9. Please see the contacts in the side bar.

Read more about H7N9 on our original blog post. . . . (read more here . . . )

Questions? Want more info?
Media Contact:
Anthony Marcello
BDA EpiVax, inc.
Email Us Here.