ORT-VAC: live bacterial vectors for vaccine delivery
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Abstract
We aim to revolutionise vaccination by developing an innovative oral vaccine delivery technology. Traditional vaccines require extensive and costly production, purification, formulation and storage, with needles used for administration. We will engineer live enteric ORT-VAC bacteria to carry plasmids expressing antigens. These uniquely enable stable, high-copy number plasmid maintenance without antibiotic resistance or other selectable marker genes, making them particularly suited for delivering DNA vaccines against influenza and HIV, which will also be developed by the consortium. Encapsulation technology will be optimised to enable the bacteria to be stored at ambient temperature, ingested and released into the small intestine, where they will stimulate a protective immune response. ORT-VAC therefore represents a cost-effective platform technology with built-in stability, adjuvanticity and efficacy.
People |
ORCID iD |
Nigel Slater (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Alexander Edwards
(2010)
A novel formulation for oral delivery of live bacterial vaccines
Edwards AD
(2009)
Protection of live bacteria from bile acid toxicity using bile acid adsorbing resins.
in Vaccine
Edwards A
(2010)
Optimal protection of stabilised dry live bacteria from bile toxicity in oral dosage forms by bile acid adsorbent resins
in Chemical Engineering Science
Description | We have found a way to stabilise live bacterial vaccines so that they can be better used in regions of the world where a cold supply chain is absent. |
Exploitation Route | The work has been extended to live probiotic bacteria |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | A patent was filed and the collaborating company is commercialising the findings |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Economic |