Welcome to Session 4: Treatment and Vaccination Development

Since COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, there are currently no effective treatments or vaccinations available. In this session, we will discuss what treatments are in the pipeline and undergoing clinical trials, including a clinical trial being performed at the University of Washington. We will also discuss why developing a COVID-19 vaccine is paramount if we want to prevent future outbreaks. We will review the latest updates in vaccine development and the timeline we can expect to see for a new vaccine to be approved, manufactured, and distributed around the world for COVID-19.

Learning Objectives

After completing this session, you will be able to:

Identify current and possible future treatment options available for COVID-19 which are currently undergoing clinical trials
Describe why vaccinations are important in curbing the pandemic and future pandemics.
Be aware of current vaccination trials underway and when we can expect to have a COVID-19 vaccine to used in the population

Guest Lecturers

Deborah Fuller, PhD

Professor, Epidemiology
University of Washington

Dr. Fuller is investigating new vaccine and antiviral concepts aimed at achieving broader, more universal protection against a wider range of highly variable viruses. Toward this goal, we have designed a therapeutic HIV DNA vaccine that when administered in combination with antiretroviral drugs to nonhuman primates infected with a primary isolate of SIV, induces profound control of viral replication that persists after antivirals are withdrawn. Viral control in this model correlated with strong mucosal CD8 responses localized in the gut, and this finding has more recently led us to investigate new DNA vaccine approaches that can more precisely focus CD8 against highly conserved epitopes and novel genetic adjuvants that can localize these responses to the gut, which is a primary source of residual virus. Similarly, using DNA vaccines and antivirals designed to precisely target highly conserved regions in influenza, we have shown significant protection against a wide range of influenza strains in mice, ferrets and nonhuman primates. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of these new platforms for achieving broad protection against HIV and influenza and other highly variable pathogens. Studies currently in progress in the Fuller lab aim to elucidate mechanisms of protection mediated by these strategies and investigate various approach including novel adjuvants, DNA vaccine delivery approaches and combinatorial regimens to further improve these outcomes. Results from our work has resulted in over a dozen patents and two start-up biotechnology companies.

Christine Johnston, MD
Associate Professor Department of Medicine
Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Associate Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program
Research Affiliate, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Dr. Johnston is a physician-scientist who performs clinical studies of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, focused on characterizing spatial localization of subclinical genital shedding and host-virus interactions. In addition, research interests include studies of existing and novel antiviral agents to suppress HSV-2 genital shedding, and the interactions between HSV-2 and coinfections in the female genital tract, specifically HIV-1 and bacterial vaginosis.

Recorded Session (50 minutes)

If you missed the live session, watch the recording here.

Dr. Fuller's presentation

Dr. Johnston's presentation

Download MP4 96MB

Readings

Ahn, Dae-Gyun, et al. “Current Status of Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Therapeutics, and Vaccines for Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 30, no. 3, 2020, pp. 313–324.

Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). CDC