Application

Modified RSV incorporating a red fluorescent reporter protein for vaccine, drug and biologic research & development. 

Key Benefits

• Provides new and needed screening tool for RSV research.
• Fluorescent protein included has better in vivo imaging capabilities than other more commonly used fluorescent proteins.

Market Summary

RSV is a highly contagious and ubiquitous virus that causes respiratory tract infections in individuals of all ages, particularly young children and the elderly. In the US, 75,000-125,000 RSV-related hospitalizations are reported annually among infants of <1 year. Worldwide the virus is also responsible for 160,000 deaths per year. Currently, no effective vaccine against RSV exists and treatment is limited to a non-vaccine prophylactic medication and supportive care.

Technical Summary

Dr. Moore's lab at Emory University has created a recombinant RSV strain that co-expresses a red fluorescent protein known as Katushka2. This viral strain is derived from Dr. Moore's BAC-RSV vector that carries the complete antigenomic sequence of RSV (see related Emory technology 11064). The Katushka protein, discovered in a sea anemone, is the brightest known fluorescent protein, making it ideal for penetrating tissues. This modified RSV strain could provide a means to establish flow cytometry and microscopy assays to indicate infection, which is useful for screening vaccine, drug and antibody candidates that neutralize the virus.

Developmental Stage

The Katushka2-tagged RSV strain has been successfully engineered and is available to ship.

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