Subunit nasal vaccine

Subunit nasal vaccines against tuberculosis

Mucosal immunology and mucosal vaccines are a key research interest in the Institute. Prof David Lewis was lead participant for the Institute's role as a clinical site for the evaluation and testing of novel vaccine strategies to deliver antigens via mucosal surfaces in the 5th Framework programme "MUCIMM".

Following the successful completion of 'MUCIMM' the Institute has again been selected as the sole clinical test site for Phase 1 vaccine trials of TB and HIV mucosal vaccines in the €15 million "MUVAPRED" integrated programme from 2004 - 2009. A total of €1.1 million is earmarked to the Institute to conduct up to 5 clinical trials . Prof David Lewis is sub-project coordinator for human studies, GMP and clinical trials within the MUVAPRED integrated programme. For further information contact Prof David Lewis or see the MUVAPRED website.

One of the first MUVAPRED vaccines to be introduced into a Phase 1 clinical trial at the Institute (Principal Investigator Prof David Lewis) was a nasal vaccine composed of a subunit TB antigen (ESAT6-Ag85 hybrid protein) developed by Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen adjuvanted by a mucosal antigen based on LT toxin developed by Novartis Vaccines (LTK63). This trial ended in 2007 with BCG non-immune subjects, receiving two nasal immunisations.

Click here for the ClinicalTrials.gov entry

Publications

Transient Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy) Following Intranasal Delivery of a Genetically Detoxified Mutant of Escherichia coli Heat Labile Toxin. DJM Lewis , Z Huo , S Barnett , I Kromann , R Giemza , E Galiza , M Woodrow , B Thierry-Carstensen , P Andersen , D Novicki , G Del Giudice , R Rappuoli. PLoS ONE 2009; 4(9): e6999. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006999.