Advanced vaccine platforms
The goal of this project is to develop and test multiple vaccine candidates using different platforms, each designed to stimulate the immune system in unique ways. By comparing these platforms, we aim to find the most effective approach to provide long-lasting protection against COVID-19. The platforms include: a vaccine targeting immune cells, nanoparticle-based vaccines, viral vector vaccines, and mRNA vaccines.
DC-targeting Vaccine
This platform focuses on designing a vaccine that directly targets dendritic cells (DCs), which are key players in the immune response. By attaching specific COVID-19 proteins (RBDv3 and Npep2) to an antibody that binds to DCs, this vaccine helps stimulate a strong immune response. The production involves creating this vaccine in lab-grown cells and testing its ability to bind to immune cells. This approach helps deliver the vaccine more effectively to the immune system.
Nanoparticle Vaccine
This platform uses nanoparticles to deliver COVID-19 proteins to the immune system. Nanoparticles are tiny, virus-like structures that can display multiple copies of the virus proteins on their surface, making them ideal for training the immune system to recognize and fight the virus. The proteins RBDv3 and Npep2 are attached to these particles, which are produced in special cells and purified for use in vaccines. Early tests will assess the immune response they generate in mice, focusing on the quantity and quality of the antibodies produced.
Viral Vector Vaccine
This platform uses a modified virus (MVA) that carries the genetic instructions for producing COVID-19 proteins inside human cells. The virus delivers these instructions, helping the body’s cells to produce the virus proteins, which then stimulate an immune response. The MVA vector will be engineered to express key COVID-19 proteins, and its ability to generate a strong immune response will be tested in cells and animal models. This type of vaccine is well known for its ability to generate strong cellular immunity.
mRNA Vaccine
The mRNA platform is based on delivering genetic material (mRNA) that instructs the body’s cells to produce specific COVID-19 proteins. In this project, several versions of mRNA vaccines will be designed to express the RBDv3 and Npep2 proteins. The mRNA is packaged into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that help deliver it into cells. The production involves screening multiple mRNA constructs to find the most effective version, followed by further testing in animals to identify the best candidate for human trials.