In the twenty-first century, the escalating threat of infectious diseases has been thrust into the spotlight, with more than ten major epidemic or pandemic viral emergence events already documented. Protheragen is at the forefront, offering comprehensive solutions for the development of vaccines and therapeutics to combat these infectious diseases.
Overview of Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These microscopic threats can spread stealthily through populations, causing localized outbreaks, epidemics, and even pandemics. They can be transmitted directly from person to person, indirectly through contaminated environments, from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases), or via vectors like insects. A thorough understanding of these pathogens is essential for developing effective countermeasures.
Fig.1 Drug development during an ongoing outbreak. (Meganck R. M., et al., 2021)
The development of vaccines for infectious diseases is a critical strategy for global health. Traditional vaccine platforms, such as
live attenuated,
inactivated, and
subunit vaccines, have been instrumental in controlling diseases like polio, measles, and hepatitis B. However, the rapid mutation rates of pathogens and the emergence of new infectious diseases necessitate continuous innovation. Modern vaccine platforms, including mRNA and viral vector technologies, have shown promise in accelerating the development and deployment of vaccines. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of
mRNA vaccines, with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines achieving high efficacy and rapid deployment.
Table 1. Examples of different vaccine platforms and vaccines currently developed or under development for emerging viral infectious diseases. (Excler J. L., et al., 2021)
| Vaccine Platform |
Indications |
Other Specifications |
Diseases in Development |
Features |
| Live attenuated |
Influenza; yellow fever; poliomyelitis |
|
COVID-19; RVF (veterinary and human use)
Lassa fever; chikungunya |
Biosafety level 3 manufacturing plant for handling dangerous viruses |
| Whole inactivated |
Influenza; poliomyelitis; COVID-19 |
With or without adjuvant |
SARSa; Zika; RVF (veterinary use); chikungunya |
Biosafety level 3 manufacturing plant for dangerous viruses; needs adjuvant; HPB regimens possible |
| DNA |
|
Electroporation; adjuvant |
SARSa; MERS; Zika; Lassa fever; COVID-19 |
Poorly immunogenic; electroporation requires a device; difficult use for rollout; HPB regimens possible |
| mRNA |
COVID-19 |
|
Lassa fever; disease X |
Rapidly adaptable to new emerging viruses; HPB regimens possible; ultracold chain currently impractical for large-scale use in resource-limited settings |
| Recombinant vectors |
| Nonreplicating |
| Ad5 |
|
|
COVID-19 |
Preexisting immunity to Ad5 |
| ChAd3 |
|
|
Ebola |
Cell-line-produced; adaptable construct to emerging virus in 5-6 months; HPB regimens possible |
| ChAdOx1 |
COVID-19 |
|
MERS; RVF; Lassa fever; Nipah; Zika; chikungunya |
| Ad26 |
Ebola; COVID-19 |
|
|
| Live attenuated |
|
|
|
| MVA |
Ebola |
|
MERS |
| VSV |
Ebola |
|
COVID-19a; Lassa fever; Nipah |
| Measles |
|
|
MERS; Lassa fever; Nipah; chikungunya; COVID-19a |
| Protein based |
|
|
|
Requires more time to adapt to new emerging viruses; likely needs adjuvant; HPB regimens possible |
| Virus-like particle |
COVID-19 |
With adjuvant |
COVID-19 |
| Monomer; dimer; trimer |
|
With adjuvant |
COVID-19; RFV; Nipah |
| Molecular clamp |
|
With adjuvant |
Influenza; MERS; COVID-19a |
aVaccine development stopped.
Therapeutic development for infectious diseases aims to treat or prevent infections by targeting pathogens or modulating the host's immune response.
Antiviral drugs,
monoclonal antibodies, and
RNA-based therapeutics are key components of this effort. Direct-acting antivirals, such as remdesivir, have shown efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, while monoclonal antibodies like bamlanivimab and casirivimab/imdevimab have been approved for emergency use in COVID-19 therapeutic. Additionally, RNA-based therapeutics offer a modular and rapidly adaptable approach to targeting viral sequences.
Table 2. Repurposed antiviral therapeutics. (Meganck R. M., et al., 2021)
| Type |
Drug |
Indications |
| Host-factor inhibitor, multiple modes |
Nitazoxanide |
Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Influenza, Rotavirus |
| Nucleoside analog |
Favipiravir |
Influenza, Coronavirus, EBOV |
| Nucleoside analog |
Remdesivir |
Coronavirus (EUA), EBOV |
| Nucleoside analog |
Ribavirin |
HCV, Rous sarcoma virus, Influenza, LASV, NiV |
| Nucleoside analog |
Tenofir disoproxil fumarate |
HIV, HBV |
| Polymerase inhibitor |
Naproxen |
Anti-inflammatory drug, Influenza |
| Protease inhibitor |
Lopinavir/ritonavir |
HIV, Coronavirus, Human papilloma virus |
| Kinase inhibitor |
Baricitinib |
Rheumatoid arthritis, Coronavirus (EUA) |
FDA-approved drugs with clinical trial data for additional antiviral indications. EUA, emergency use authorization.
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
At Protheragen, our integrated approach to infectious disease research and development offers unparalleled solutions to meet the current and future needs of global health. We specialize in providing comprehensive services across the entire R&D spectrum, from target identification and lead compound discovery to preclinical study support.
Types of Infectious Diseases
A deep understanding of the diverse nature of infectious agents is critical for targeted intervention. Protheragen's research and development efforts span the spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms, offering specialized services for each category:
Bacterial Infections
- Acinetobacter Infection
- Bacillus Cereus Infection
- Buruli Ulcer
- Chlamydia Infection
- More
Viral Infections
- Adenovirus Infection
- Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever
- BK Virus Infection
- Chickenpox
- Chikungunya
- Enterovirus Infection
- More
Prion Diseases
- Kuru
- Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)
- Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Syndrome (GSS)
- More
Our Services
Protheragen's one-stop infectious disease therapy development solution is designed to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to vaccine and therapeutic development. Our services cover the entire spectrum of research and development, from pathogen and host research to preclinical testing.
Pathogen and Host Research
Our pathogen and host research services form the foundation of our one-stop solution. By understanding the molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases, we can identify novel targets for vaccine and therapeutic development.
Vaccine and Therapeutic Development
With an advanced platform, our company offers vaccine development services such as live attenuated and inactivated vaccines and one-stop solutions such as small molecule and cell therapies.
Disease Model Development
Protheragen specializes in creating and validating disease models that closely mimic human infections. Our models include a variety of animal species and human cell lines, allowing us to test potential therapeutics.
Preclinical Research
Preclinical research is a critical step in the development of vaccines and therapeutics. Protheragen offers comprehensive preclinical research services, including in vitro and in vivo testing, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new products.
The fight against infectious diseases is a continuous and evolving challenge. Protheragen stands ready as a committed partner, bringing our unparalleled expertise in biological research, sophisticated development platforms, and a deep understanding of diverse pathogens to deliver cutting-edge vaccine and therapeutic solutions. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to
contact us.
References
- Meganck, Rita M., and Ralph S. Baric. "Developing therapeutic approaches for twenty-first-century emerging infectious viral diseases." Nature medicine 27.3 (2021): 401-410.
- Excler, Jean-Louis, et al. "Vaccine development for emerging infectious diseases." Nature medicine 27.4 (2021): 591-600.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
