SUNY TAF Class of 2023 - Adam Waickman - SUNY Upstate Medical University
Adam Waickman
Meeting the Dengue Challenge
The dengue virus, spread by mosquitoes, threatens about half of the world’s population with illness or death. The vaccine and immunology community has been seeking a way to treat or prevent dengue virus infections for the past 40 years.
A unique challenge of dengue is that there are four genetically distinct variations (serotypes) of the virus. “The immune system can tell the difference between these serotypes,” said SUNY Upstate Medical University researcher Adam Waickman.”That means we have to generate immunity against four viruses simultaneously.”
Waickman explained that, in general, if you are infected with serotype one of dengue, you generally cannot be infected again with that serotype. However, you would not necessarily have protection against serotypes two, three, and four. To further complicate matters, infection with one serotype actually puts you at greater risk of severe disease if you're later infected with one of the other serotypes.
Waickman has developed a new class of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of dengue that have been shown to neutralize the viruses with no infection-enhancing side effects. He received a TAF Class of 2023 investment to advance the therapy that may also be effective on other flaviviruses such as Zika virus, and Powassan virus. “The TAF award will allow us to do the pivotal work required to move the antibodies to advanced-stage trials,” said Waickman.