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Volume 2
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Reports
Microbial Biotechnology 2018
September 17-18, 2018
Microbial Biotechnology & Vaccine Design
September 17-18, 2018 Lisbon, Portugal
5
th
World Congress on
Eliminating the vaccine cold-chain distribution hurdle
Francis Eko
Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
Statement of the Problem:
The requirement for vaccines to be kept sufficiently cold (unbroken cold chain) during transport makes
vaccine distribution to some populations (where the vaccines are greatly needed) extremely challenging, if not impossible. Thus,
various strategies are being explored to eliminate the need for the expensive cold chain. We have designed a versatile Vibrio Cholerae
Ghost (VCG) vaccine delivery platform that eliminates the need for the expensive cold chain and thus alleviate cold chain-associated
constraints on global vaccine access. Moreover, this platform is self-adjuvanting and capable of simultaneously delivering multiple
vaccine antigens to the immune system. It also offers an attractive approach for developing combination vaccines, especially against
diseases with epidemiological overlap. Here, we present data showing a VCG-based chlamydial vaccine protects against infertility
in mice.
Method:
Groups of mice were Immunized Rectally (IR) with VCG expressing the
Chlamydia trachomatis
porin B and polymorphic
membrane protein D proteins (rVCG-PmpD/PorB) or glycoprotein D from HSV-2 (rVCG-gD2 or gD2) as antigen control. Vaccine
efficacy was assessed by evaluating the intensity and duration of genital chlamydial shedding following intravaginal challenge with
live chlamydiae. Protection against upper genital tract pathology was determined by assessing infertility and tubal inflammation.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare differences between groups.
Finding:
We demonstrated that elicited immune effectors following immunization cross-reacted with the serovar E chlamydial
antigen and reduced the length and intensity of genital chlamydial shedding. Moreover, immunization with the VCG-vaccine reduced
the incidence of tubal inflammation and protected mice against Chlamydia-induced infertility.
Conclusion:
These results highlight the potential of the VCG platform for eliciting immunity in the female genital tract and
preventing the sequelae of chlamydial infection such as infertility and upper genital tract inflammation.
feko@msm.eduPietro Mastroeni, J Microbio and Biotech Rept 2018, Volume 2