Understanding and inducing immunity against rabies and Epstein Barr virus Class III fusion proteins

The project focuses upon the structurally-related viral fusion proteins of rabies and Epstein Barr virus (EBV). Antibodies against these proteins can neutralise the viruses. Such proteins can adopt distinct pre-fusion and post-fusion forms. The project will investigate whether it is possible to design vaccines to induce pre-fusion-specific antibodies and whether such antibodies will neutralise the viruses more potently. A further aspect of the project will examine whether the level of shedding of EBV in carriers' saliva could serve as a marker of immunity against the virus. This work aims to address the need for new vaccines against rabies and EBV. Rabies kills about 60,000 people every year: a cheap, single-dose vaccine would be a major step forward. Most adults carry EBV without suffering serious problems, but it causes 100,000 deaths due to cancer each year and there is increasing evidence it contributes to development of multiple sclerosis.