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Jason Jiang, PhD, and Ming Tan, PhD, have extended their work on the norovirus P particle and its adaptability as a vaccine platform. The norovirus P particle is formed by 24 copies of the protruding (P) domain of the norovirus capsid, which is ideally sized for a subunit vaccine. Their studies have shown that insertion of the M2e epitope of influenza virus and the VP8 epitope of rotavirus into the three surface loops of each P domain induced high titers of neutralizing antibodies against replication of influenza virus and rotavirus and protected vaccinated mice from infection with these two viruses.
The Rotarix vaccine, invented by David Bernstein, MD, and Richard Ward, PhD, was recently found to be associated with a 42 percent decrease in deaths per 100,000 children aged 11 months or younger in Mexico. Diarrhea-related mortality was 29 percent lower for children between the ages of 12 and 23 months, although these children are typically too old to receive the vaccine. Diarrhea-related mortality among unvaccinated children between the ages 24 and 59 months was not significantly reduced. (Richardson V. et. al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2010; 362:299-305).
Nancy Sawtell, PhD, has continued her work on the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virion protein VP16 as a central mediator of latency and reactivation from latency in sensory neurons. Innovative animal models allow testing of the hypothesis that the VP16 gene in the HSV-1 genome can be regulated by action of neuro-specific and stress-responsive promoter elements and corresponding transcription factors to allow the differential responses entailed in initial infection or exit from latency. Sawtell hopes to identify transcription factors or protein-modifying enzymes that regulate VP16 and its differential functions as promising targets for development of therapeutic interventions for HSV reactivation.
Rhonda Cardin, PhD, has developed a guinea pig model that accurately recapitulates transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) from mother to fetus and is accompanied by attendant hearing loss. Since CMV infection in humans is the major cause of nonhereditary deafness, this critically important animal model will allow dissection of each step of pathogenesis and serve as an important tool for testing or therapeutic interventions.
Effective Jan. 1, 2011, Robert Frenck, MD, has assumed the position of chief of the Clinical Service after the departure of Michael Gerber, MD. Under Frenck’s leadership, divisional revenues from inpatient consults have increased by 37 percent, and the outpatient antibiotic service has had an increase of more than 40 percent in patient encounters over the past two years. Frenck’s plans call for the opening of a travel clinic at the Cincinnati Children’s Burnet Campus and a general infectious disease clinic at Liberty Campus within the next 12 months.
In continuing to refine their model of services for internationally adopted children, Mary Staat, MD, and the International Adoption Center have added mental health services and family counseling to help internationally adopted children overcome abusive backgrounds and to facilitate families’ adjustment to the emotional and educational needs of internationally adopted children.
