In this project we investigated the production and validation of an allergen (house dust mite) modified with glycans to increase its efficacy as a vaccine. We generated fragments of derp house dust mite as protein or peptides, and sialylated that with specific chemistry. Sialylation of the derp, allows targeting of the derp to Siglec receptors on dendritic cells, and this improved dendritic cell targeting lead to altered immune responses because Siglec receptors are inhibitory receptors that down modulate immune responses. We could demonstrate that chemical glycan modification of an allergen, sialic acids in specific, lead to diversification of immune responses through the the induction of immune suppressive T cell such as regulatory T cells, and altered cytokines (IL10) that reduces the inflammatory allergic immune response. Our project demonstrated antigens can be decorated with sialic acids and thereby can be used to reduce inflammatory responses against that antigen. We expect that our output will be visible in publications to be followed soon, as well as receiving interest in pharma to implement this technology in their pipelines for developing tolerizing antigens for inhibition inflammatory diseases.
