https://sole.hsc.wvu.edu/Apps/News/rss/SchoolofMedicine/Vaccine-Development-Center50 most recent storiesen-USeab7b8c6-3f81-438b-ae96-0d0cd2f1dff8https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=wvu-vaccine-development-center-pursues-studies-to-enhance-pertussis-vaccine-with-industry-partnersomdiscoverIn a recent series of preclinical studies, the West Virginia University Vaccine Development Center determined a way to heighten immune responses and protection against Bordetella pertussis, the bacteria that causes whooping cough.Mon, 16 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -05002023-01-26T11:53:21-05:00f011412a-9d79-4ee6-9e29-2a8518c3d13chttps://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/08/19/sniffing-out-an-alternative-wvu-scientists-developing-nasal-mist-vaccine-targeting-covid-19The only approved way to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is through a good 'ol shot in the arm. Eventually, West Virginia University medical researchers could change that narrative. Scientists say they've developed a nasal mist that you would inhale through your nose and would offer protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants. "The more I watched the vaccine race as a bystander, I kept thinking, 'We should really test the idea of a nasal mist,'" said Heath Damron, director of the WVU Vaccine Development Center.Thu, 19 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -04002022-03-30T11:32:39-04:00f5fa3f0a-f1ee-4a8c-a027-7a264b134730https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/keep-calm-and-take-one-in-the-arm-west-virginia-university-researcher-says-vaccination-remains-best-way-to-dodge-delta-variantAs the latest prominent COVID-19 strain, the Delta variant, shows a high rate of transmissibility, West Virginia University scientists say there's no urgent cause of concern for those vaccinated. Heath Damron said his team at WVU has aimed to stay ahead of the curve in studying the emerging variants of the novel coronavirus starting with the Alpha (the U.K. variant), the Beta (South African) and Gamma (Brazilian) strains.Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -04002021-08-13T14:52:48-04:00d88e59c3-5055-4cfc-89fd-d3f40d00de0bhttps://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/02/15/beating-the-resistance-wvu-scientists-target-antibiotic-resistant-infections-with-1-4m-dod-grantWith the aid of $1.4 million-grant from the DOD's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, researchers, led by Mariette Barbier of the WVU School of Medicine, will aim to develop small molecule and antibody therapeutics to treat infections prone to antibiotic resistance.Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -05002021-02-15T10:47:23-05:008e2aac66-b16a-427f-99bc-b4e69caaeb17https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=wvu-vaccine-development-center-and-leidos-team-up-to-explore-new-immunotherapy-pathwayThe West Virginia University Vaccine Development Center and Leidos, Inc. (NYSE: LDOS), a Fortune® 500 science and technology leader, are teaming up to investigate new treatments related to the bacterium pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacterium can often lead to blood infections, pneumonia and post-surgery complications. Wed, 23 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -05002021-01-04T13:27:26-05:00d66b9902-bc38-46cd-a1a8-4a8bd58ac729https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2020/09/09/ticked-off-wvu-researchers-target-lyme-disease-vaccine-with-aid-of-1-9m-federal-grantPesky, yet dangerous ticks are no longer latching exclusively onto hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Milder winters and disrupted habitats have driven them out of the woods, with Lyme disease cases in the United States tripling since the late 1990s. Now researchers at West Virginia University are working toward a vaccine that prevents humans from contracting the tick-borne illness that afflicts more than 300,000 Americans a year. Wed, 09 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -04002020-09-11T09:48:19-04:0024e69150-8906-4efc-85f6-49168d991da0https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2020/06/11/to-help-west-virginia-reopen-safely-wvu-researchers-develop-new-covid-19-testscovid19covid-19COVID-19 tests are in short supply. The companies that make the necessary chemicals—called reagents—can't keep up with demand. But researchers at West Virginia University are developing new tests on their own to identify who has COVID-19 now and who had it in the past but recovered.Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -04002020-06-26T10:38:57-04:006b810a55-0f50-4c14-b313-f59fee172534https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=as-whooping-cough-evolves-wvu-researcher-studies-how-to-maintain-vaccine-s-effectivenessScientists and bacteria are locked in an arms race. Over time, bacteria can evolve to resist today's powerful vaccines. Bordetella pertussis—which causes pertussis, or whooping cough—is no different. Although the current vaccines that protect against it are highly effective—plunging the annual death rate from around 9,000 in the early 1940s to 13 in 2017—there's no guarantee they will stay that way.Tue, 20 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -04002020-02-26T14:10:12-05:00af8440a1-1b6d-414f-b506-3811c2c25e6dhttps://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=barbier-awarded-r01-to-study-improved-pertussis-vaccineMariette Barbier, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the West Virginia University School of Medicine, has received a National Institutes of Health R01 grant to identify how the vaccine that protects against Bordetella pertussis—or whooping cough—can better target the bacteria as they adapt.Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -04002019-07-16T08:47:06-04:00bd86167b-57a0-4b62-9d6a-5d38be0a3df0https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=wvu-researcher-seeks-vaccine-to-prevent-lethal-pneumoniaAbout half of all people with cystic fibrosis, the most common genetic disorder in the United States, die from a lung disease before they turn 40. A form of pneumonia called Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a likely culprit. These bacteria have become so hard to treat that the Centers for Disease Control deemed it a serious threat to the nation.Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -05002018-11-26T13:55:57-05:0088d2fcd2-a6ee-4253-b08b-8754ab7353f4https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=microbiology-immunology-cell-biology-researcher-awarded-grant-fromcystic-fibrosis-foundationInfections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming increasingly prevalent. Individuals with the genetic disorder Cystic Fibrosis, or CF, are particularly prone to these infections because of their compromised immune status. CF patients develop respiratory infections caused by bacteria such as the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Thu, 26 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -04002018-11-26T13:57:56-05:002de6d18d-4f27-4892-a5cc-21aaf8c3f253https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=microbiology-immunology-and-cell-biology-students-awarded-top-honors-at-van-liere-research-conferencFive graduate students in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis program were awarded first place honors for their poster presentations at the 53rd Van Liere Research Conference held March 22-23 at the WVU Health Sciences Center.Mon, 16 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -04002018-11-26T13:58:39-05:004128d793-c553-4113-a381-4e65323f6121https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/news/story?headline=research-challenge-grants-to-support-development-of-improved-vaccines-at-wvuThanks to support from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, researchers at West Virginia University will be able to continue working to improve the state's health.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -05002018-11-26T13:59:56-05:00