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Novel Vaccine Adjuvant

Technology Benefits

The recombinant protein products described in this technology are non-pathogenic but induces robust immune responses in a host via TLR activation. Immunization of mice with one of the protein products has shown to protect the animals from subsequent infection challenge.

Technology Application

The protein products can be used as adjuvants in a vaccine preparation or as TLR activator research reagents.

Detailed Technology Description

Adjuvants are used in a vaccine preparation to augment the effectiveness of the vaccine. Experimentally, agents which augment the hostΓÇÖs immune responses or stabilize the vaccine antigen at the site of injection, such as bacterial toxins or lipid emulsions, respectively, have been used as adjuvants. These adjuvants, however, cause great discomfort and irritations in the host and therefore not suitable for therapeutic use. A new generation of adjuvants that target specific immune responses with greater efficacy and applicability for human use are being sought and explored.This patent-pending technology utilizes recombinant gene products derived from bacterial needle proteins. Our research group has discovered that these derivatives elicit proinflammatory responses in host animals by increasing cytokine/chemokine releases. Furthermore, it was shown that the animals vaccinated with one of the protein products as an adjuvant were better protected from the subsequent infection challenge than those without any adjuvant. In vivo studies indicate that the derivatives specifically activate Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 signal transduction pathway to induce MyD88-dependent gene expressions. This technology can be therefore exploited as new vaccine adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity of an antigen.

Supplementary Information

Inventor: NILLES, Matthew
Priority Number: WO2012178078A2
IPC Current: A61K003939 | A61K003816 | A61K003817 | A61K003938 | A61P003100 | A61P003700
Assignee Applicant: University of North Dakota
Title: USE OF YSCF, TRUNCATED YSCF AND YSCF HOMOLOGS AS ADJUVANTS | UTILISATION D'UNE YSCF, D'UNE YSCF TRONQUÉE ET D'HOMOLOGUES DE L'YSCF COMME ADJUVANTS
Usefulness: USE OF YSCF, TRUNCATED YSCF AND YSCF HOMOLOGS AS ADJUVANTS | UTILISATION D'UNE YSCF, D'UNE YSCF TRONQUÉE ET D'HOMOLOGUES DE L'YSCF COMME ADJUVANTS
Summary: The composition is used as a medicament. The composition is used for inducing an enhanced immune response; screening for an immunological response to a Yersinia pathogen; and vaccinating a subject against Yersinia infection (all claimed).

Industry

Biomedical

Sub Category

Pathogen

*Abstract

The University of North Dakota has developed recombinant protein products, which enhance immune responses in recipient hosts. Used with an antigen, this technology serves as a new adjuvant in a vaccine preparation.

Country/Region

USA