Exclusion of infectious agents from mucosal surfaces of the reproductive tract is a key objective of STI microbicides. The center will analyze mucosal antibodies as mechanisms of exclusion, and complimentary passive and active immunizations to achieve protective antibody concentrations in the female reproductive tract. A unique feature of this center will be the use of green plants as versatile highly cost-effective biomanufacturing systems for microbicides (e.g. antibody-based) and mucosal vaccines. Recognizing that access to STI public health programs will require low-cost and high capacity prevention technologies, this center utilizes the tools of plant biotechnology for biopharmaceutical production. This proposal addresses 4 specific areas of interest. Three scientific project areas are included in the AzBio Center. Project 1 focuses on diversification, characterization and preclinical evaluation of human monoclonals (huMabs) protective against viral STIs. Project 2 focuses on creation and preclinical evaluation of mucosally targeted immunogens to achieve effective vaginal antibody concentrations against viral STls. Project 3 focuses on the clinical evaluation of passive and active immunization to achieve robust antibody concentrations in the female reproductive tract against viral STIs. A Production Core will provide plant biotechnology services for Mabs and prototype vaccine production to support the three projects. An Administrative Core will oversee and coordinate all of the projects, including defining the regulatory map for clinical evaluation of the technologies, and strategic planning to blend emerging technologies to ensure that new biopharmaceuticals are accessible to the public health community. The outcomes of this study will define the safety and surrogate effectiveness of a layered system of plant-derived public health products for STIs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program--Cooperative Agreements (U19)
Project #
5U19AI062150-05
Application #
7491687
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-NBS-M (M4))
Program Officer
Rogers, Elizabeth
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2008-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$1,264,061
Indirect Cost
Name
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
943360412
City
Tempe
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85287
Meador, Lydia R; Kessans, Sarah A; Kilbourne, Jacquelyn et al. (2017) A heterologous prime-boosting strategy with replicating Vaccinia virus vectors and plant-produced HIV-1 Gag/dgp41 virus-like particles. Virology 507:242-256
Kessans, Sarah A; Linhart, Mark D; Meador, Lydia R et al. (2016) Immunological Characterization of Plant-Based HIV-1 Gag/Dgp41 Virus-Like Particles. PLoS One 11:e0151842
Mathew, Lolita George; Herbst-Kralovetz, Melissa M; Mason, Hugh S (2014) Norovirus Narita 104 virus-like particles expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana induce serum and mucosal immune responses. Biomed Res Int 2014:807539
Whaley, Kevin J; Morton, Josh; Hume, Steve et al. (2014) Emerging antibody-based products. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 375:107-26
Lee, Ho-Hsien; Cherni, Irene; Yu, HongQi et al. (2014) Expression, purification and crystallization of CTB-MPR, a candidate mucosal vaccine component against HIV-1. IUCrJ 1:305-17
Hjelm, Brooke E; Kilbourne, Jacquelyn; Herbst-Kralovetz, Melissa M (2014) TLR7 and 9 agonists are highly effective mucosal adjuvants for norovirus virus-like particle vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 10:410-6
McGowin, Chris L; Radtke, Andrea L; Abraham, Kyle et al. (2013) Mycoplasma genitalium infection activates cellular host defense and inflammation pathways in a 3-dimensional human endocervical epithelial cell model. J Infect Dis 207:1857-68
Kessans, Sarah A; Linhart, Mark D; Matoba, Nobuyuki et al. (2013) Biological and biochemical characterization of HIV-1 Gag/dgp41 virus-like particles expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant Biotechnol J 11:681-90
Lai, Huafang; Chen, Qiang (2012) Bioprocessing of plant-derived virus-like particles of Norwalk virus capsid protein under current Good Manufacture Practice regulations. Plant Cell Rep 31:573-84
Jackson, Erin M; Herbst-Kralovetz, Melissa M (2012) Intranasal vaccination with murabutide enhances humoral and mucosal immune responses to a virus-like particle vaccine. PLoS One 7:e41529

Showing the most recent 10 out of 32 publications