Infectious Diseases World Summit: Influenza Research and Development – July 9-10, 2012 – San Francisco, CA

Other Conferences running concurrently:
10th Vaccines Research & Development: All Things Considered
9th Anti-Infectives Partnering & Deal-Making

These are a few excerpts from the Itinerary [Editing is mine]

Influenza Research and Development – July 9-10, 2012 – San Francisco, CA


Assessing The Threat of the H5N1 Influenza Virus
Chairperson: Gary Kobinger, Chief, Special Pathogens,
Public Health Agency of Canada

8:00 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
H5N1 Influenza-Has the Threat Been
Overblown?
Robert Webster, Ph.D.， Rose Marie Thomas Chair,
Infectious Diseases， St. Jude Children's Hospital
Live poultry markets were the source of the initial human
H5N1 cases in Hong Kong. The highly pathogenic H5N1
influenza virus has spread to over 63 countries in Eurasia
and continues to evolve. Multiple clades and subclades
continue to emerge in the regions where the highly
pathogenic H5N1 viruses have become endemic including
Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The
H5N1 viruses of particular concern are the clade 2.3.2.1
that has been isolated from wild birds in multiple regions of
Eurasia. While the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses that
arose over a decade ago in Southern China have, to date
infected 597 persons and killed 351 the virus has not
acquired the ability to spread consistently from human to
human. There is a growing sense of complacency that
since H5N1 has not achieved human to human
transmissibility in over 15 years that it is unlikely to do so. It
would be prudent to remember that it took H1N1 nearly 100
years (1918-2009) to achieve pandemic potential.

The key unanswered questions include:
-Is highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 (clade 2.3.2.1) being
perpetuated in wild aquatic birds and changing the
established paradigm.
-Will the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses acquire high
transmissibility in mammals?
1) An underappreciated threat to human and animal
health
2) Pandemic preparedness alert
3) Need for adjuvant use in vaccines
4) Need for continued surveillance
5) The 'pipe dream' of a universal vaccine

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
8:40 An Epic Journey to Publish Ferret H5N1
Transmission Studies
Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, Ph.D., Professor of
Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Wisconsin-Madison; International Research Center for Infectious Diseases and
Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and
Immunology, Institute of Medical Science,
University of Tokyo

Two recent studies describing the transmission of influenza
viruses possessing mutant HAs of highly pathogenic H5N1
avian influenza viruses in ferrets were extensively
discussed in the media prior to their publication. In my
presentation, I will discuss the findings and implications of
our study on the molecular basis of the transmissibility of
H5N1 influenza virus in ferrets and describe the
biosafety/biosecurity and administrative oversight related to
this study.

Day 2 - Tuesday, July 10, 2012
9:00 Developing a Sustainable Influenza Vaccine
Manufacturing Enterprise for Pandemic
Robert Huebner, Ph.D., Acting Director of Influenza
Division, BARDA/ASPR/HHS
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development
Authority (BARDA) focuses on the advanced development,
manufacturing and acquisition of medical countermeasures
against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
threats, pandemic influenza and emerging infectious
diseases. BARDA's program to manage the risk of
pandemic influenza is an extensive, dynamic and 'battle
tested' model from which to draw lessons that inform future
preparedness needs and governance responses. The
pandemic influenza program leverages a portfolio matrix of
countermeasures in which the particulars of infrastructure
building, stockpiling and advanced development can be
understood as pivotal technologies that can be combined to
enhance preparedness assurance and capacity. Focusing
on selected examples of advanced development reveals
the promises, advantages, limitations, and challenges to
development, marketing and licensure of vaccines in the
US. Using the lessons learned from our existing advanced
development programs and events such as the 2009 H1N1
pandemic the BARDA Influenza Division is working through
public-private partnerships with industry to develop a
diverse domestic influenza vaccine enterprise that will be
sustainable and support our national goals for pandemic
preparedness.


11:50 Broad Neutralization of Influenza Virus and
Implications for a Universal Vaccine
Ian Wilson, D.Phil., D.Sc., FRS, FRSE, Hansen Professor
of Structural Biology, The Scripps Research Institute
The major surface antigen, the hemagglutinin (HA), of
influenza virus is the main target of neutralizing antibodies.
However, most antibodies are strain-specific and protect
only against highly related strains within the same subtype.
Recently, a number of antibodies have been found that are
much broader and neutralize across subtypes and groups
of influenza A viruses through binding to functionally
conserved sites. We have determined co-crystal structures
of broadly neutralizing antibodies with the HA and identified
highly conserved sites in the HA fusion domain (stem) of
group 1 and group 2 influenza viruses (1,2). We have also
structurally characterized antibodies that bind to the
conserved receptor binding site in the HA head and protect
against different strains and subtypes. The identification
and characterization of these exciting new antibodies
provide new opportunities for structure-assisted design of
as well as potential therapeutics that afford greater
protection against influenza viruses.
Benefits:
1) Identification of neutralizing epitopes
2) Key features of the antibodies
3) Mechanisms of antibody neutralization