2023
Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models
Lorenzo M, Marín-López A, Chiem K, Jimenez-Cabello L, Ullah I, Utrilla-Trigo S, Calvo-Pinilla E, Lorenzo G, Moreno S, Ye C, Park J, Matía A, Brun A, Sánchez-Puig J, Nogales A, Mothes W, Uchil P, Kumar P, Ortego J, Fikrig E, Martinez-Sobrido L, Blasco R. Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1006. PMID: 37243110, PMCID: PMC10220993, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11051006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVaccine candidatesStrong T cell responsesAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2Prime-boost regimensT cell responsesFull-length SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinEffective COVID-19 vaccineGolden Syrian hamstersSARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinCOVID-19 vaccineRecombinant MVA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2S proteinBrain infectionMVA vaccinesCell-cell fusionAmino acid substitutionsVaccine platformHamster modelEnzyme 2Recombinant MVAVaccine vectorAnimal modelsRobust immunityRepeated Tick Infestations Impair Borrelia burgdorferi Transmission in a Non-Human Primate Model of Tick Feeding
Narasimhan S, Booth C, Philipp M, Fikrig E, Embers M. Repeated Tick Infestations Impair Borrelia burgdorferi Transmission in a Non-Human Primate Model of Tick Feeding. Pathogens 2023, 12: 132. PMID: 36678479, PMCID: PMC9861725, DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-human primatesImmune responseLyme diseaseTick transmissionAnimal modelsGuinea pigsNon-human primate modelProtective immune responseTick feedingTick infestationRobust immune responseTick salivary antigensElicit immune responsesHuman Lyme diseaseClinical manifestationsHuman pathogensPrimate modelSalivary antigensNon-natural hostsVaccine targetsDiseaseVaccine discoveryTick resistanceBorreliaNatural host
2019
Modeling Arboviral Infection in Mice Lacking the Interferon Alpha/Beta Receptor
Marín-Lopez A, Calvo-Pinilla E, Moreno S, Utrilla-Trigo S, Nogales A, Brun A, Fikrig E, Ortego J. Modeling Arboviral Infection in Mice Lacking the Interferon Alpha/Beta Receptor. Viruses 2019, 11: 35. PMID: 30625992, PMCID: PMC6356211, DOI: 10.3390/v11010035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMouse modelAnimal modelsArbovirus infectionInterferon α/β receptorAlpha/beta receptorAppropriate animal modelsNatural hostInterferon alpha/beta receptorSafe therapyProtective efficacyArboviral infectionsImmune responseAdult miceBeta receptorsNew vaccinesDisease pathogenesisExtrapolation of findingsΒ receptorExperimental infectionBiosafety level 3MiceInfectionStatistical significanceVirusPathogenesis
2018
Altered vector competence in an experimental mosquito-mouse transmission model of Zika infection
Uraki R, Hastings AK, Gloria-Soria A, Powell JR, Fikrig E. Altered vector competence in an experimental mosquito-mouse transmission model of Zika infection. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2018, 12: e0006350. PMID: 29505571, PMCID: PMC5854422, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006350.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZIKV transmissionZika virus infectionNatural transmission routeInfected miceZIKV infectionZika infectionTesting vaccinesVirus infectionIntrathoracic injectionAnimal modelsZIKVInfectionMiceTransmission routesBlood mealVector competenceVector competencyMosquitoesTransmission modelVertebrate hostsMosquito modelPathogenesisVaccine
2017
Zika Virus and Sexual Transmission: A New Route of Transmission for Mosquito-borne Flaviviruses.
Hastings AK, Fikrig E. Zika Virus and Sexual Transmission: A New Route of Transmission for Mosquito-borne Flaviviruses. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine 2017, 90: 325-330. PMID: 28656018, PMCID: PMC5482308.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSexual transmissionZika virusWorld Health OrganizationWest Nile virusAcute onset paralysisUnprotected sexual contactRoutes of transmissionNew global epidemicSevere birth defectsBody achesMild feverAnimal modelsInfected mosquitoesVaginal secretionsViral infectionMain mosquito vectorGlobal epidemicFlaviviridae familyImportant human pathogenSexual contactDisease controlHealth OrganizationZika transmissionNile virusBirth defects
2013
MyD88 Deficiency Markedly Worsens Tissue Inflammation and Bacterial Clearance in Mice Infected with Treponema pallidum, the Agent of Syphilis
Silver AC, Dunne DW, Zeiss CJ, Bockenstedt LK, Radolf JD, Salazar JC, Fikrig E. MyD88 Deficiency Markedly Worsens Tissue Inflammation and Bacterial Clearance in Mice Infected with Treponema pallidum, the Agent of Syphilis. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e71388. PMID: 23940747, PMCID: PMC3734110, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071388.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyD88-deficient miceTreponema pallidumMyD88-deficient animalsResistance of miceToll-like receptorsWild-type miceMyD88-deficient macrophagesMacrophage-mediated clearanceHigh pathogen burdenMyD88 deficiencySpirochete Treponema pallidumWT miceTissue infiltratesBacterial clearanceExtensive inflammationTissue inflammationPlasma cellsControl animalsWT macrophagesMost TLRsAnimal modelsMixed mononuclearPathogen burdenMiceT. pallidum
2008
A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells
Bonafé N, Rininger JA, Chubet RG, Foellmer HG, Fader S, Anderson JF, Bushmich SL, Anthony K, Ledizet M, Fikrig E, Koski RA, Kaplan P. A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells. Vaccine 2008, 27: 213-222. PMID: 18996430, PMCID: PMC2651515, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.10.046.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine candidatesClinical adverse effectsProtein vaccine candidateRecombinant vaccine candidateWNV vaccineAntibody titersHumoral immunityProtective efficacySafe vaccineWNV infectionChallenge modelVaccine antigensAnimal modelsViral protectionHigh dosesProtein antigensAdverse effectsImmunogenicitySerum-free cultureAntigenCell linesNaïve foalsVaccineAluminum hydroxideInfection
1997
Borrelia burgdorferi strain-specific Osp C-mediated immunity in mice
Bockenstedt LK, Hodzic E, Feng S, Bourrel KW, de Silva A, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E, Radolf JD, Barthold SW. Borrelia burgdorferi strain-specific Osp C-mediated immunity in mice. Infection And Immunity 1997, 65: 4661-4667. PMID: 9353047, PMCID: PMC175668, DOI: 10.1128/iai.65.11.4661-4667.1997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChallenge infectionC antiserumImmunization studiesStrain-specific immunityAntibody-mediated immunityPassive immunization studiesImmune mouse serumSurface protein AOuter surface protein ADisease regressionInfected miceBorreliacidal activityC antibodySpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiAnimal modelsImmune serumMouse serumInfectionLyme borreliosisMiceHyperimmune serumOsp AImmunofluorescence studiesBorrelia burgdorferiSurface expressionBorrelia burgdorferi enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for discrimination of OspA vaccination from spirochete infection
Zhang YQ, Mathiesen D, Kolbert CP, Anderson J, Schoen RT, Fikrig E, Persing DH. Borrelia burgdorferi enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for discrimination of OspA vaccination from spirochete infection. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 1997, 35: 233-238. PMID: 8968914, PMCID: PMC229545, DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.1.233-238.1997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayVaccine failureFalse positivityAntigen preparationsExperimental animalsNatural infectionLyme disease vaccineB. burgdorferiExperimental animal modelsNegative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayEnzyme-linked immunosorbentWhole-cell sonicateSurface protein AVaccinated subjectsLyme disease casesOuter surface protein AVaccinated personsFalse-positive resultsVaccine trialsOspA vaccinationSpirochete infectionDisease vaccineAnimal modelsHuman Lyme disease casesNegative isolates
1992
Spirochetes: vaccines, animal models and diagnostics
Simon M, Milward F, Lefebvre R, Schouls L, Fikrig E, Wasmoen T, Stover K, Menefee B, Robinson J. Spirochetes: vaccines, animal models and diagnostics. Research In Microbiology 1992, 143: 641-647. PMID: 1475524, DOI: 10.1016/0923-2508(92)90122-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research