Synthetic Peptides for Tuberculosis Vaccine and Diagnostic Development

Category: Agriculture

Reference Number: 00479

Description

A unique and modular bioinformatic process for the discovery of potential peptide vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has been developed by UH researchers. This process is based on the identification of diverse Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) involved in the response and protection to Mtb exposure and/or infection. The antigens are selected based on the host HLA genotype, making them designer vaccine peptides. The peptides can be combined in recombinant peptides or used as a cocktail of native proteins, in order to provide adequate global coverage. In addition to vaccine development, synthetic HLA peptides can be used for diagnostic purposes. By exploiting patients’ reactivity to their personal small synthetic HLA peptide and applying empirically determined thresholds, infection versus exposure can de determined via an in vitro Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay.

Applications

• Disease diagnosis
• Vaccine development
• HLA and immunological effectors comparisons (Immunogenetics)

Main Advantages

• Simple design
• Diverse and comprehensive
• Easily evaluated
• Modular to allow for the analysis of several diseases (Intracellular pathogens)

Inventor(s)

Chad Walton
Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Contact Information

For licensing information, please contact Lisa Matsunaga at matsunag@hawaii.edu

For all other inquiries, please write to:

Office of Technology Transfer & Economic Development
University of Hawai’i
2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96822