Generation of Non-Toxic Mutants of Pathogenic Gram Negative Bacteria

Technology SummaryResearchers at the University of Iowa have developed a potential vaccine with efficacy across various pathogenic gram negative bacteria.  The vaccine is based upon a conserved portion of an LOS, known as conLOS, from Neisseria meningitidis. This element, GlcNAc-Hep2phosphoethanolamine-KDO2-LipidA, is common across a broad range of gram negative bacteria.  Hence, the vaccine can elicit an immune response against bacteria such as: Neisseria meningitides, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenza, Chlamydia trachomatis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bordetella pertussis, Vibrio cholera, among others.  The endotoxin-based form of the vaccine can be used alone or in combination with a protein carrier (and other elements), and delivered as a vaccine. In an alternate vaccine format, the specific gram negative bacteria with a mutated htrB gene (which produces the mutant LOS) can be used as a live cell vaccine that is specific for each of the gram negative bacteria listed above. AdvantagesMultiple FormatsVaccine can take any of three formats: Live cells with attenuated htrB gene; Mutated endotoxin; Mutated endotoxin conjugated to a carrier proteinBroad Spectrum Gram Negative TargetVaccine takes advantage of an endotoxin or gene that is common across various gram negative bacteriaPotential for Use in CombinationVaccine preparation could be combined with others and used to increase the efficacy and/or coverage of desired bacterial targets

USA