FAQs

Are ArboShield™ biocontrol agents safe for humans?

The HR-symbionts that form the basis of ArboShield™ for Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika and Sindbis have all be tested in animal models where they do not cause disease, morbidity or mortality. Clinical trials in humans using field released ArboShield™ are planned but have not been conducted.

What makes ArboShield™ the ideal agent against Arboviruses ?

Super-infection exclusion has long been known as a naturally occurring phenomenon that impacts pathogen replication and transmission in insects. However, the only agents that were previously shown to block disease, also caused disease. For instance, Yellow Fever virus is known to block replication of dengue virus, but both cause hemorrhagic disease. HR-symbionts that form the basis of ArboShield™ are the first agents specific for a pathogenic target but are themselves non-pathogenic, yet retain 100% of the immunologic identity to the disease causing pathogen to confer full immunologic protection, while producing predictable, persistence in the vector population for sustainable benefit.

How to get started?

Contact us to discuss your needs and tailor a plan for your environment.

References

Exclusion of superinfecting homologous virus by Sindbis virus-infected Aedes albopictus (mosquito) cells. Journal of virology. 58. 81-6. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.58.1.81-86.1986

Chikungunya Virus Host Range E2 Transmembrane Deletion Mutants Induce Protective Immunity against Challenge in C57BL/6J Mice. Journal of virology. Vol. 87, No. 12 . https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.03357-12

Live Attenuated Tetravalent Dengue Virus Host Range Vaccine Is Immunogenic in African Green Monkeys following a Single Vaccination. Journal of virology. Vol. 88, No. 12. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00541-14

Superinfection interference of alpha and orthoflavivirus pathogens by homologous non-pathogenic vaccine strains. Microbiology Spectrum. Vol. 13, No. 12 . DOI:10.1128/spectrum.03362-24