A Novel Thermal Method to Inactivate Rotavirus for Use in Vaccines

Rotavirus is a highly contagious, diarrhea-inducing pathogen that annually causes approximately 250,000 deaths worldwide and millions of hospitalizations, especially afflicting infants and young children. One strategy to combat this virus is through vaccination. Continuing safety and efficacy concerns with the currently existing live, oral vaccines against rotavirus have led researchers to search for alternative treatment approaches, such as vaccines containing inactivated rotavirus.

This technology describes a method for inactivating rotavirus. Traditional inactivation strategies use chemicals that reduce antigenicity (by altering rotavirus proteins), leading to less protection against the virus. Conversely, this method preserves and/or maintains the integrity of viral particles, leading to greater protection against rotavirus. This strategy has been validated in mice, piglets and cattle and further clinical studies are underway.