Novel Adjuvant for Enhancing Immunogenicity of Vaccine Antigens

Inventors: Hildegund C. J. Ertl and Marcio O. Lasaro

Tech ID: EH0401

Description: Investigators at The Wistar Institute have developed a novel method for improving the immune response to vaccination by combining specific target immunogens with a non-specific adjuvant antigen.  Many of the most important antigens elicit only low CD8+ T cell responses, and are therefore poor immunogens.  The effectiveness of these antigens in stimulating T cell activity and conferring protective immunity can be significantly improved by fusing them to adjuvant carrier protein sequences.  Wistar scientists have developed a new highly-effective carrier protein adjuvant by fusing a Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) sequence to the vaccine immunogen sequence.  Glycoprotein D is a viral envelope protein that is normally expressed on the surface of cells infected with Herpes virus.  The fusion of glycoprotein D to a target vaccine antigen enhances the immune response to that antigen.  The recombinant glycoprotein D chimeric protein preserves the structures responsible for trafficking and anchoring to cell surfaces and interaction with immune cell receptors.  The efficacy of recombinant glycoprotein D as a fusion adjuvant has been demonstrated in both preventive and therapeutic applications in animal models of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and on other vaccine applications.

Key Words: vaccine, adjuvant, vaccine development, HPV

Applications and Advantages: The HSV glycoprotein D is an effective adjuvant for DNA, viral vector, and protein vaccines.  Unlike many carrier protein adjuvants that are targeted to intracellular compartments, the HSV glycoprotein D chimeras are expressed on the cell surface.  This significantly reduces the likelihood of deleterious interaction with intracellular proteins such as those implicated in malignant transformation.  The glycoprotein D chimeric adjuvant has application in the development of new effective vaccines for viral infections and cancer.

Intellectual Property Status: This technology is protected by International PCT Patent Application PCT/US2007/018939 “Constructs for Enhancing Immune Responses” (Ertl, H.; Lasaro, M.; August 28, 2007).

Licensing Opportunity: Wistar is seeking corporate partners to further develop this technology.  Exclusive or non-exclusive license will also be considered.

Relevant Publications:  Lasaro et al.; 2005. “Anti-tumor DNA vaccines based on the expression of human papillomavirus-16 E6/E7 oncoproteins genetically fused with the glycoprotein D from herpes simplex virus-1”. Microbes Infect 7: 1541-1550
 Lasaro et al.; 2008. “Targeting of antigen to the herpesvirus entry mediator augments primary adaptive immune responses”.  Nature Medicine 14: 205-212

Contact:

Meryle J. Melnicoff
Director, Business Development
The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street
Room 322
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 898-0049
Fax: (215) 495-6861
melnicoff@wistar.org

last updated: Feb. 08