SDSU Researchers Discover Novel Vaccine Delivery System in Collaboration with Local Biotechnology Firm

San Diego State University researchers have discovered a ‘minicell’ vaccine delivery system that has potential to protect against several disease-causing infections.

These findings were published in an advance online edition of the journal, Vaccine. The paper is published in the March 8 issue.

While most vaccines contain live micro-organisms, the minicell vaccine studied mimics the live pathogen response without any risk of infection, making it particularly useful for immunizing children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Additionally, the minicell vaccine is able to counter many infectious diseases in a cost-effective and efficient manner, and could solve serious infectious disease problems in developing countries.

"We have found a vaccine delivery method that has an advantage over other non-living vaccines in that the minicells stimulate all elements of the immune system that are required to protect people against infectious diseases," said Kathleen McGuire, SDSU biology professor and co-author of the paper.

In the study, the SDSU team created a vaccine against the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which causes a lethal form of meningitis in mice. The minicell vaccine protected 89 percent of immunized mice from death.

"Through this research, we’ve been able to create a platform technology that we hope will translate into many vaccine formulations," said Matt Giacalone, study co-author, SDSU adjunct professor of biology and a 2006 graduate of SDSU’s joint MBA/Ph.D. program.

Research funding was primarily provided by Vaxiion Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company founded by SDSU biology professor Roger Sabbadini. He also served as co-author on the study.

"Based on the success of this translational work, Vaxiion is developing a multi-component vaccine against Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli for use in human clinical trials," Sabbadini said.

Additional funding for the study was provided by a California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) Joint Venture Grant, which supports interactions between CSU academic researchers and biotechnology companies, such as Vaxiion.

Other co-authors of the study include Yen-Lin Chu of SDSU; Neil L. Berkley, co-founder of Vaxiion Therapeutics Inc. who received both M.S. and MBA degrees at SDSU; and Maria Salvato and Juan C. Zapata with the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Additionally, Vaxiion was recently issued a patent for the novel vaccine technology studied in this paper.

Vaxiion Therapeutics Inc. is dedicated to the intelligent design of effective vaccines and vaccine carrier technologies. Recent acts of bioterrorism, the emergence of new infectious diseases, and the development of multi-drug resistance in many types of human pathogens have spurred the demand for innovative vaccine approaches. Vaxiion's use of genetically engineered non-living bacterial minicells to deliver a multitude of protein antigens and DNA vaccines is just that...An innovative and compelling solution that promises to have broad applications against a variety of pathogens and disease indications. For more information, please visit www.vaxiion.com.