Development, production and testing of novel glycoconjugate pig vaccines

Lead Research Organisation: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department Name: Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology

Abstract

Healthily maintained livestock are essential for economic and societal prosperity. We propose to exploit ground-breaking technology to produce low cost glycoconjugate vaccines to protect against three major pig diseases (porcine pleuropneumonia, Glässer's disease and S. suis-induced meningitis), where current vaccines are unsatisfactory. We have developed technology to generate cloned glycoconjugates in E. coli cells that act as mini factories to produce an inexhaustible and renewal supply of pure vaccine. Due to production costs, conventional chemically synthesised glycoconjugate vaccines have not been used for animals, but have an excellent track record in humans, where over a billion doses have been used. Through the LSHTM business development office and industrial collaborators we will develop, produce and test new vaccines against the three major pig respiratory diseases. A new company, ArcVax, will be spun-out to further develop the technology and commercialise vaccine product.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We developed and produced three Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae toxin vaccine candidates.
We cloned and expressed of Strep suis capsular polysaccharides in E. coli as a primary step towards making production of a recombinant Strep suis glycoconjugate vaccine.
We developed and produced a App/Strep suis glycoconjugate vaccine candidates.
Exploitation Route We have pig vaccine candidate available for testing. This may still happen through Boehringer Ingelheim, but we are also in discussions with Merck Animal Products. Additionally, pig vaccines are part of the business plan for our spin out company ArkVax, which may provide an additional route to testing vaccines developed and produced in the grant.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description The findings from the study have formed the basis for Strep suis pig vaccines. These vaccines are being developed and produced by ArkVax
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Development and application of an Advanced Glycan Production Platform
Amount £447,107 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/W006146/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 01/2025
 
Description Development of a Universal Group A Streptococcus Glycoconjugate Vaccine
Amount £403,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 221589/Z/20/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 01/2023
 
Description GlycoCell
Amount £12,300,000 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/Y008472/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 02/2029
 
Description Institutional Translation Partnership Award
Amount £800,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 214227/Z/18/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2019 
End 03/2023
 
Description Reducing the health & economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine
Amount $600,000 (AUD)
Funding ID LP190100114 
Organisation Australian Research Council 
Sector Public
Country Australia
Start 09/2021 
End 10/2024
 
Description Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of invasive pneumococcal disease
Amount £1,900,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 221803/Z/20/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 01/2026
 
Title Provision of bank of E coli glycoengineering strains 
Description Provision of bank of E coli glycoengineering strains that are available free from the Belgium Co-ordinated Collection of Microorganisms 
Type Of Material Biological samples 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The bank of E coli glycoengineering strains that are available free from the Belgium Co-ordinated Collection of Microorganisms were the most requested strains from this major collection in 2023, and we were given an award. 
URL https://www.biodiversity.be/5177/#:~:text=BCCM%2FLMG%20is%20a%20bacterial,Contact%3A%20lmg%40UGent.b...
 
Description Glycoengineering pathways in E. coli 
Organisation University of Arkansas Medical Center
Country United States 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We have supplied 11 E. coli strains derived from our E. coli GlycoCell project to evaluate for efficiency fro glycosylation and to improve glycol yields based on reshunting UndeCPP pathways.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with Professor Matthew Jorgenson, UAMS we are investigating the role of recycling UndeCPP in the efficiency of glycoengineering in E. coli cells
Impact Improved E. coli strains for glycoengineering
Start Year 2020
 
Description Hilleman Labs 
Organisation MSD Wellcome Trust Hilleman Laboratories
Country India 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production.
Collaborator Contribution Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production. Vaccine technology Vaccine upscaling and manufacture
Impact Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production. Vaccine technology Vaccine upscaling and manufacture
Start Year 2020
 
Description Merck MSD 
Organisation Merck
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration on vaccine development
Collaborator Contribution Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production
Impact Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production. Vaccine technology Vaccine upscaling and manufacture
Start Year 2020
 
Description huvepharma 
Organisation Huvepharma
Country Bulgaria 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual contribution, vaccine development and production.
Collaborator Contribution Intellectual contribution, vaccine development and production. Vaccine technology Vaccine upscaling and manufacture
Impact Intellectual contribution and vaccine development and production. Vaccine technology Vaccine upscaling and manufacture
Start Year 2020
 
Company Name ArkVax 
Description ArkVax develops vaccines for animals through glycoengineering. 
Year Established 2020 
Impact The focus of the company is the development of multicomponent poultry, pig and ruminant vaccines. The business is supported contract research for vaccine candidate from established vet vaccine companies and further funding is currently being sought from a range of investors.
Website https://www.arkvax.com/
 
Description 30+ TV interviews (BBC, SKY, Channel 4) on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact 30+ TV interviews (BBC, SKY, Channel 4) on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use.
Received 100s of questions from general public many relating to vaccine confidence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description 5 international TV interviews (eg BBC News, Swiss and Russian TV) on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use as well as SARS2-CoV epidemiology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact 5 international TV interviews (eg BBC News, Swiss and Russian TV) on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use.
Received dozens of questions from general public many relating to vaccine confidence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description 5 invited newspaper articles in Daily Mail TV interviews on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 5 invited newspaper articles in Daily Mail TV interviews on Covid vaccine delivery, production and use.
Numerous response from general public who have felt reassured about taking Covid vaccine.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Co-Director of Vaccine Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As Co-Director of LSHTM vaccines Centre have contributed to several vaccines related event for The General Public, Schools and Industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres/vaccine-centre