Recent technological breakthroughs have facilitated the discovery of new drugs to fight deadly human viruses, such as Ebola. These drugs are derived from the blood of previous survivors of the disease. However, no similar process exists for the discovery of drugs to treat highly lethal viruses of equids, such as African horse sickness – a viral disease with mortality rates as high as 90% in affected horses. Researchers will establish the technologies needed using the blood of immunized horses to discover similar immunotherapeutic drugs to fight deadly equine viruses. This pilot study will establish a template technology protocol to help facilitate discovery of novel immunotherapeutics against all equine infections as well as inform future vaccine designs.
Study ID
D20EQ-806
Study Status
Complete
Start Date
04/01/2020
Grant amount awarded
$10,800
Grant recipient
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Study country
South Africa
Investigator
Constantinos Kurt Wibmur, PhD
Study category
Immunology