Anthrax vaccines

About: Anthrax vaccines is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 685 publications have been published within this topic receiving 21495 citations.

Method for manufacturing anthrax spore vaccines using spore surface display and anthrax spore vaccines

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an anthrax spore vaccine and the anthrax spore vaccine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing an anthrax spore vaccine and the anthrax spore vaccine, wherein the method comprises the following steps: culturing a spore-forming microorganism to express a target protein in the spore-forming microorganism; displaying the expressed target protein on a surface of a spore; and obtaining the spore on which the target protein is displayed on the surface from the spore-forming microorganism. The spore on which the target protein is displayed is surface-displayed in a non-fusion natural environment, and the target protein is an anthrax recombinant protective antigen (rPA). In addition, the present invention can provide an anthrax vaccine pharmaceutical composition and an anthrax immunization method using the anthrax spore vaccine.

Genomics and Proteomics in Vaccine Design

Abstract: In 1881, Louis Pasteur, the father of bacterial vaccines and immunology, demonstrated publicly the first vaccine against a bacterial infection. His vaccine, against anthrax in sheep, consisted of Bacillus anthracis attenuated by high-temperature growth in his laboratory. At Pouilly-Le-Fort, a small village close to Paris, he vaccinated 25 sheep then challenged these plus 25 controls with a virulent strain of B. anthracis. All 25 control sheep died, and all 25 immunized sheep survived. This remarkably successful experiment silenced even his most vocal detractors and paved the way for the development of antibacterial vaccines for use in man. Remarkably, the anthrax vaccine produced today and used to immunize American soldiers is produced in a similar fashion except that a stable partially attenuated strain is used. The second bacterial vaccine was produced by Ramon in 1924 and was essentially a formaldehyde-inactivated supernatant from cultures of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Again, current vaccines against diphtheria are produced in the same way except that the inactivated toxin that confers protection is partially purified from the culture supernatant. The story continues with the inactivated whole-cell vaccine against Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) first produced in the late 1940s and still used today in developing countries. It is unlikely that these vaccines would gain FDA approval today. They are still accepted because several decades of use has demonstrated that they are reasonably safe and very effective. It should not be forgotten that these vaccines, together with the smallpox and polio vaccines, essentially eliminated the major causes of childhood mortality in the industrialized world.

Recombinant full-length Bacillus Anthracis protective antigen and its 63 kDa form elicits protective response in formulation with addavax

Abstract: Introduction Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent for the lethal disease anthrax, primarily affecting animals and humans in close contact with an infected host. The pathogenicity of B. anthracis is attributed to the secreted exotoxins and their outer capsule. The host cell-binding exotoxin component “protective antigen” (PA) is reported to be a potent vaccine candidate. The aim of our study is to produce several PA constructs and analyze their vaccine potential. Methods We have designed the various subunit, PA-based recombinant proteins, i.e., full-length Protective antigen (PA-FL), C-terminal 63 kDa fragment (PA63), Protective antigen domain 1-domain 4 chimeras (PA-D1-4) and protective antigen domain 4 (PA-D4) and analyzed their vaccine potential with different human-compatible adjuvants in the mouse model. We have optimized the process and successfully expressed our recombinant antigens as soluble proteins, except full-length PA. All the recombinant antigen formulations with three different adjuvants i.e., Addavax, Alhydrogel, and Montanide ISA 720, were immunized in different mouse groups. The vaccine efficacy of the formulations was analyzed by mouse serum antigen-specific antibody titer, toxin neutralization assay, and survival analysis of mouse groups challenged with a lethal dose of B. anthracis virulent spores. Results We have demonstrated that the PA-FL addavax and PA63 addavax formulations were most effective in protecting spore-challenged mice and serum from the mice immunized with PAFL addavax, PA-FL alhydrogel, PA63 addavax, and PA63 alhydrogel formulations were equivalently efficient in neutralizing the anthrax lethal toxin. The higher levels of serum Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines in PA-FL addavax immunized mice correspond to the enhanced protection provided by the formulation in challenged mice. Discussion We have demonstrated that the PA-FL addavax and PA63 addavax formulations exhibit equivalent efficiency as vaccine formulation both in a mouse model of anthrax and mammalian cell lines. However, PA63 is a smaller antigen than PA-FL and more importantly, PA63 is expressed as a soluble protein in E. coli, which imparts a translational advantage to PA63-based formulation. Thus, the outcome of our study has significant implications for the development of protective antigen-based vaccine formulations for human use against the lethal disease anthrax.

Perspectives of development of live recombinant anthrax vaccines based on opportunistic and apathogenic microorganisms

Abstract: Live genetic engineering anthrax vaccines on the platform of avirulent and probiotic micro-organisms are a safe and adequate alternative to preparations based on attenuated Bacillus anthracis strains. Mucosal application results in a direct contact of the vaccine preparations with mucous membranes in those organs arid tissues of the macro-organisms, that are exposed to the pathogen in the first place, resulting in a development of local and systemic immune response. Live recombinant anthrax vaccines could be used both separately as well as in a prime-boost immunization scheme. The review focuses on immunogenic and protective properties of experimental live genetic engineering prearations, created based on members of geni of Salmonella, Lactobacillus and adenoviruses.