Novelty: This tangible material is polyomavirus virus like-particles that can be used to measure human antibodies to polyomaviruses in diagnostic assays and to introduce polyomavirus capsid specific antibodies by immunization.
Value Proposition: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a recently discovered polyomavirus in Merkel Cell Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin tumor. Currently, little is known about MCPyV infection in human populations. This technology is polyomavirus virus like-particles, employed to study this disease by developing virus-like particle (VLP)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to antibodies to MCPyV.
Additional advantages of this discovery include:
• Resemble native virions morphologically and retain their immunological properties
• Potential to develop diagnostic assays and antibodies to polyomaviruses
Technical Details: Johns Hopkins researchers have produced and purified capsids of MCPyV in a recombinant baculoviruses expressing viral protein 1(VP1). The empty capsids were then used to develop a virus-like particle (VLP) ELISA, which was used to investigate age-specific seroprevalence in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) patients. This technology can be used to measure human antibodies to polyomaviruses in diagnostic assays and to introduce polyomavirus capsid specific antibodies by immunization.
Looking for Partners: To commercialize this material as a research or diagnostic tool for polyomavirus infections.
Stage of Development: Pre-clinical
Data Availability: Serological data/ ELISA from MCC patients
Publications/Associated Cases: Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 October; 18(10): 17371743.
