Novel approaches to vaccination (GlycoNanoParticles)
Thursday 16 April 2009
Project
The research group deals with peptide based and saccharide based vaccine development, modulation of immune responses by adjuvants, characterization of protective immune responses and immunotherapy. The aim is how to provide protective immunity against viral and bacterial pathogens in humans by mechanisms of specific and nonspecific immunity.
Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae are investigated for several reasons. Firstly: the current pneumococcal vaccine consisting of whole polysaccharides is inadequate for large scale vaccination programs. We designed new saccharide conjugate vaccines based on information obtained from previous polysaccharide and adjuvant research. Secondly: we aim to predict the efficacy of the new vaccine by correlating in vivo with in vitro parameters (antibody titers, subclasses, avidity, phagocytosis and survival).
In the present ongoing GlycoGold study we investigate the immunological and biological aspects of Glyco-Nano-Particles (GNPs) in vivo and in vitro. The synthesis and analysis of GNPs will be performed at the Bijvoet Center (BOC) (http://www.bijvoet-center.nl), Utrecht University. The GNPs will be made via the NaBH4 (Brust) approach. Attention will be paid to the preparation of hybrid GNPs. In the vaccine project it is likely that hybrid GNPs containing both saccharide and activating peptide will be necessary for the induction of a proper immuneresponse. For interaction studies hybrid GNP’s with fluorescent labels are required.
The GlycoGold project (European network program) (http://www.glycogold.org) is a Human Resources and Mobility Activity: Partners in Spain, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland and France.
Techniques
For a number of these studies mouse models are available, but there is a trend to in vitro studies using human cells and sera. Other techniques: cell culture, ELISA, molecular techniques.
Duration
6 or 9 months
Contact
Dr. H. Snippe, tel. 088 75 576 28, H.Snippe@umcutrecht.nl
More info
Website UMC Utrecht - Medical Microbiology
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