Multi-epitope Fusion Antigen Vaccine for ETEC

Unmet Need: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the leading cause of diarrheal diseases worldwide but to date no effective vaccine exists due to the heterogeneity in ETEC strains. There is a need for a vaccine that elicits a broad yet productive immune response against multiple ETEC antigens to provide protection.
 
Technical Details: Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and South Dakota State University have developed a multi-epitope fusion antigen (MEFA) as a vaccine candidate to elicit protection against a broad range of heterogeneous ETEC strains. The vaccine candidate incorporates a fusion polypeptide molecule engineered to express immunogenic epitopes from multiple colonization factor antigens (CFAs) to address the heterogeneity in ETEC strains. In addition, the candidate includes covalently linked fragments of ETEC enterotoxins (toxoids) heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxin (STa). As shown in mice, the vaccine candidate is able to induce antibody responses to all CFA and toxoid antigens incorporated in the fusion polypeptide, indicating that the novel construct is immunogenic for all epitopes. Importantly, in addition to a serum IgG response, the vaccine induced mucosal IgA production crucial for control of ETEC at the intestinal site of infection.
 
Value Proposition:
 

• Novel vaccine candidate for broad protection against heterogeneous ETEC strains
• Enhanced protection without adverse effects of administration with toxoid inclusion strategy
• Vaccine candidate can be administered alongside current therapeutic strategies
   
  Looking for Partners to: Develop & commercialize the technology as a novel vaccine candidate against ETEC infection and diarrheal disease.
   
  Stage of Development: Pre-clinical
   
  Data Availability: In vivo mouse model
   
  Inventors: David Sack, Weiping Zhang
   
  Patent Status: Pending US application: 20160317638A1
   
  Publication(s): Ruan X, Sack DA, Zhang W. (2015). Genetic fusions of a CFA/I/II/IV MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen) and a toxoid fusion of heat-stable toxin (STa) and heat-labile toxin (LT) of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) retain broad anti-CFA and antitoxin antigenicity. Plos One 10(3): e0121623.

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