Descripción del proyecto
Una nueva era de vacunas contra microorganismos patógenos de la mucosa gastrointestinal
En los últimos años, la lucha contra la resistencia a los antimicrobianos se ha posicionado como una cuestión apremiante, ya que constituye una amenaza que podría poner en peligro a grandes segmentos de la población mundial. Por desgracia, la tarea de desarrollar nuevas vacunas sigue siendo muy compleja, sobre todo a la hora hacer frente a infecciones bacterianas que afectan a zonas específicas, como el tubo gastrointestinal. En este contexto, el proyecto Vax2Muc, financiado con fondos europeos, se centra en desarrollar nuevas tecnologías de vacunación que superen la tolerancia local e induzcan inmunidad protectora en las mucosas. La bacteria «Helicobacter pylori», responsable de provocar una infección bacteriana crónica, se utilizará como organismo modelo para evaluar, optimizar y priorizar distintas estrategias de vacunación. Se sabe que la infección provocada por esta bacteria afecta a cerca del 50 % de la población y que puede evolucionar hasta causar un adenocarcinoma gástrico. Entre los objetivos del proyecto figuran la evaluación exhaustiva de las vacunas candidatas, tanto en términos de inmunogenicidad como de seguridad.
Objetivo
To overcome antimicrobial resistance (AMR) compromising global public health, novel strategies to develop next generation vaccines against AMR pathogens are required. However, the development of effective vaccines is challenging for bacterial infections occurring at mucosal sites, in particular in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In this context, H. pylori is listed as high priority AMR pathogen and the most common chronic bacterial infection affecting half of the world’s population with a high risk to progress into gastric cancer. Previous failures in H. pylori vaccine development approaches suggest that induction of mucosal immunity is required for protection. Thus, Vax2Muc will develop a rational prophylactic lead candidate against H. pylori in a straight-forward manner and directly evaluate this candidate for safety and immunogenicity in a phase I clinical trial, serving as proof-of-concept for novel vaccine technologies developed in Vax2Muc. To induce long-term protective mucosal immune responses sustained by tissue resident memory T cells, we will apply our previously identified vaccine antigens, combined with potent adjuvants for a systemic prime, and implemented in an innovative oro-mucosal film for a mucosal pull. Vax2Muc will further advance GMP manufacturing, and investigate and progress novel vaccine technologies and strategies tailored for mucosal application. We will evaluate our lead candidate and alternative approaches in pre-clinical mouse and pig models to define meaningful correlates of immunity and protection, which are still lacking for most of GI/AMR infections. Thus, Vax2Muc will deliver (i) a prophylactic vaccine candidate against H. pylori as PoC, and (ii) a wealth of knowledge and technologies that can be translated into the clinical development pipeline and are broadly applicable for various GI/AMR mucosal pathogens to significantly benefit the challenging field of mucosal vaccination and finally reduce disease burden from AMR/GI diseases.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
HORIZON-HLTH-2022-DISEASE-06-two-stage
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinador
80333 Muenchen
Alemania