Harnessing viral interference to power next generation influenza antivirals.
Therapeutic Defective Interfering Particles
Key Information
Technology Category: Healthcare & Infectious Diseases, Therapeutics, Influenza Antivirals
Technology Readiness Level: TRL3
Technology Readiness Level: TRL3
Patent: US non-provisional application filed. US19/850,448
Publication: Alnaji, F.G et al., Nat Commun (2026)
Overview
Influenza A virus naturally produces deletion-containing viral genomes (DelVGs) that compete with wild-type virus during infection and can suppress viral replication. We have identified nucleotide modification that enhances the replication and antiviral interfering activity of an influenza DelVG, providing a potential strategy for engineering more potent therapeutic interfering particles.
This technology enables sequence-level optimization of defective viral genomes (DVG) to enhance their natural ability to interfere with influenza virus replication.
Our Innovation
- Fine-tuning viral interference at the nucleotide level. Specific A94G point mutation in DI250 enhances the replication, competitive fitness and interfering activity of the DelVG against wild-type influenza virus.
Potential Applications
- Novel influenza antiviral therapeutics
- Engineered therapeutic interfering particles
- Optimization and screening of antiviral DeIVG candidates
- Antiviral discovery and screening platforms for studying virus-DeIVG competition and viral interference
Our value proposition
- Distinct antiviral approach. Our approach harnesses naturally occurring competition between DVG and wild-type virus as an alternative strategy to suppress viral replication.