Honors Theses
Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Wayne Gray
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a positive polarity, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae. In this family, there are several globally relevant human pathogens including dengue fever virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), yellow fever virus (YFV), the newly emerging Zika virus, and the West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV, like other Flaviviruses, is spread by an arthropod vector, and can cause West Nile fever and West Nile encephalitis and meningitis, and is now considered to be endemic in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. No vaccine is currently available to prevent WNV infection, and it is clear that one is needed. This thesis aims to provide significant, relevant background information, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and highlight various vaccination strategies that have been attempted or are currently being researched to combat WNV. Furthermore, this paper aims to provide a plausible solution to WNV with two different vaccines that were created: a DNA and recombinant Varicella Zoster Virus (rVZV) vaccine, both expressing the pre-membrane and glycoprotein E antigens of the virus. The DNA vaccine achieved successful transfection and expression in Vero cells.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Ryan, "The Construction and Characterization of Vaccines Expressing the Pre-membrane and Glycoprotein E antigens of the West Nile Virus" (2018). Honors Theses. 808.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/808
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