Intranasal Streptococcus pyogenes Vaccine
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Summary
The intranasal vaccine offers a less invasive, safer and more efficacious solution for preventing infections stemming from Streptococcus pyogenes. Its primary advantage lies it its novel intranasal applicator which is suitable for pediatric patients.
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus) is a human pathogen that causes a wide variety of illnesses ranging from a slight case of pharyngitis or Scarlett fever to severe invasive infections such as necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, as well as autoimmune diseases that are sequalae of streptococcal infections such as acute rheumatic fever (ARF), rheumatic heart disease and glomerulonephritis.
Potential Use
- This vaccine will protect immunized patients from 85% of all infections in Chile.
- The vaccine will also protect immunized patients from a high percentage of infections in other countries given similarities in the distribution of the most prevalent types of M protein.
Development Status
- TLR3 – Assays in murine model are complete. Rabbits assays are next.
- Ten live vaccine strains have been produced using genetic engineering. Each strain expresses one of the most common types of the S. pyogenes M protein.
Advantages
Intranasal administration: induces a better immune response by creating specific antibodies. The goal is to develop an easily-administered, minimally-invasive method to protect against ten serotypes of S. pyogenes.
Intellectual Property
Patent request submitted in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
Opportunity
Looking for companies or institutions interested in financing the next stages of research.
Research Team
Aniela Wozniak, Ph.D. Biologist, Master’s in Biotechnology and PhD in Science specializing in Microbiology, Universidad de Chile. Faculty Professor at the School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.