SHREK Proteins Attenuate Viral Infectivity in Recombinant Vaccines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments and vaccines for viruses such as COVID-19 and HIV are ineffective, with no available vaccine for COVID-19 and lifelong antiretroviral therapy required for HIV, highlighting the need for novel antiviral agents that can safely attenuate viral infectivity.

Innovation Solution

Development of SHREK proteins, which are mucin-like glycoproteins that incorporate into viruses during assembly, rendering them non-infective, and their use in attenuated virus vaccines or antibody-SHREK conjugates to prevent infection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional treatments and vaccines are used for viruses such as COVID-19 and HIV, then current standard care is provided, but they are ineffective with no available vaccine for COVID-19 and lifelong antiretroviral therapy required for HIV

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of treatment and vaccineVSAvoidduration of therapy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and modifies specific viral proteins (SHREK proteins) from their native viral context, isolating their protective function. By taking out these proteins and incorporating them into attenuated viruses or antibody conjugates, the invention separates the beneficial protective function from the harmful infectivity, enabling vaccine development without requiring lifelong therapy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts harmful viral components into beneficial vaccine elements. By attenuating viruses through incorporation of SHREK proteins or by creating antibody-SHREK conjugates, the patent transforms potentially harmful viral materials into safe and effective vaccine formulations that provide protective immunity without causing disease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If viruses are used in vaccines, then they can elicit immune response, but they may remain infective and cause disease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune response efficacyVSAvoidviral infectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-attenuating viruses through incorporation of SHREK proteins before they are used in vaccines. This preliminary modification ensures that the viruses cannot infect host cells while retaining their ability to elicit protective immune responses. The SHREK proteins are incorporated into virions during assembly, preventing infectivity before the vaccine is administered

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The SHREK proteins serve as intermediaries that mediate between the viral structure and the immune system. These proteins are incorporated into the viral envelope, acting as a bridge that maintains the viral structure necessary for immune recognition while simultaneously blocking infectivity. The intermediary SHREK proteins allow the vaccine to stimulate immunity without transmitting infection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12048741B2Recombinant host cell with heterologous nucleic acids encoding SHREK proteins

Publication Date: 2024.07.30 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Recombinant viruses include one or more SHREK proteins and are thereby rendered non-infective and can be safely used in vaccines, e.g. to treat or prevent infections and to eliminate e.g. latent virus reservoirs.