Tick borne viruses pose serious threats to the health of both humans and livestock. Left untreated, the spread of these viral infections can create a significant burden on the healthcare system and reduce the profitability of commercial livestock operations. This technology provides the complete genomic sequence of a newly discovered nairovirus called South Bay Virus, detected in as many as 20% of all mature ticks. The virus is understood to be highly contagious. The genomic information for the virus is critical for developing an effective vaccine and post-exposure therapies. Adequate development of this technology could furnish a vaccine for use in humans or livestock that greatly reduces the morbidity associated with infection, reducing the burden on the healthcare system and increasing the profitability of livestock enterprises.
A unique feature of the newly discovered South Bay Virus is its dissimilarity to known nairoviruses. The South Bay Virus is the first member of a new clade of nairoviruses, showing at most 26% similarity to other members of the genus. Such phylogenic divergence means that existing vaccines likely do not already target the South Bay Virus, potentially allowing new therapies to command market exclusivity and face little to no competition in the marketplace.
This technology provides the complete sequence of the S and L segments of the South Bay Virus.
Patent Pending WO/2016/022958
Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU14095