#2020008 - Parasitic pseudo-viral mRNA transcript - A novel approach for viral therapy

Background and Need

Viruses pose a threat to human health. The emergence of coronavirus strains with high mortality rates in the past decades pose a threat on humans.  Current anti-viral therapy focuses on vaccination and targeting viral proteins. The main flaw of this approach is the quick evolution of a virus, which allows it to overcome the anti-viral drug or vaccine. In the case of a resistant strain or a new epidemic, it takes precious time to develop a vaccine or treatment. Vaccines are not always efficient for viral infections due to many reasons.

The field of bioinformatic has developed in the past decades, that in a short time and a low price it is easy to sequence new viral strains. This makes it easy to understand the mechanism of the viral replication and exploit it for inhibition. Bioinformatics help us also find conserved sequences in the viral genome that can serve s targets for inhibitory molecules, such as inhibitory RNA sequences.

We suggest here a new approach for treatment based on bioinformatics that can be used for a broad spectrum of viral strains, and evolves with the virus until its eradication. The inventors designed a novel type of treatment that is harmless and non-sustainable in the absence of the wild type virus.

The purpose of this PSCT is to act as a parasite that uses up the viral proteins, while at the same time inhibiting the WV replication. This technique is safe and simple for coronavirus, but could also provide solution for other other viruses causing global pandemic.

Invention

The inventors have constructed a parasitic pseudo-viral transcript (PSCT) based on relevant wild type virus (WV) RNA sequences encompassing the sequences necessary to be optimally recognized by the WV proteins (e.g. replication complex and structural protein) and compete with the WT for transcription and packaging, while lacking any sequences that permit the expression of viral structural or non-structural proteins (nsp).

Currently there is no treatment available that employs a replicating vector in viral treatment. This treatment can be used for any coronavirus strain. It evolves faster than the WV, so in case of a mutation in the WV, there is a higher chance of adapting to the mutant strain. There is no need for dose adjustment.

Additionally, the treatment is transmissible – if a family or a large population is infected, treating one family member will treat the whole family. Suitable for third world countries or severe epidemics with long incubation period, where we do not know who else is sick.