A novel vaccine approach
Eradication of P. aeruginosa (Pa) has become increasingly difficult due to its remarkable capacity to resist antibiotics. Strains of Pa are known to utilize their high levels of intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms to counter most antibiotics. Even if antibiotics kill off Pa, powerful exotoxins and endotoxins released in the blood continue to infect the patient thus acute diseases caused by Pa tend to be chronic and life-threatening. Prevention of the onset of Pa infection is critical.
Pa infections are caused by 20 various strains. Prevention of Pa requires a vaccine the captures all Pa types. Hafion’s protein antigen complex vaccine targets more than one protein and fuses them together along with an adjuvant capturing all Pa types. The Hafion nanoemulsion formulation is specific for intranasal delivery of the vaccine.
Hafion has developed the fusion antigen component that is combined with a formulation to create a self-adjuvanting antigen nanoemulsion platform.
Hafion’s Unique Platform
Antigen Complex
Hafion is developing a prophylactic vaccine that prevents early colonization by Pa, regardless of infection type, prior to establishment of a biofilm. Hafion has developed a Pa fusion that is a self-adjuvanting fusion antigen platform to target Gram-negative bacteria. It uses the type III secretion system (T3SS) for mediating onset of infection.
Because the T3SS apparatus needle tip and translocator proteins within a given species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly conserved, genetically fusing the needle tip and first translocator proteins, we can achieve broad serotype-independent protection.
Hafion produces and fuses the proteins to develop a special antigen complex that provides broad, serotype-independent protection.
Nanoemulsion Delivery System
We have developed a novel vaccine that uses nanoemulsions that stick to mucin in the nose, LTA 1 and PcrV-PopB Fusion (PaF), a protective fusion antigen. With this technology, loaded nanoemulsions can deliver the PaF protein antigen to the lymph nodes. It’s effective because it mimics key aspects of a bacterial infection in humans.
Next Steps
Hafion is optimizing our lead Pa vaccine candidate, the adjuvant activity and delivery platform that will provide broad protection against all strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa including MDR species/strains.
Hafion continues development of a prophylactic vaccine formulation that consists of a protein fusion in a nanoemulsion formulation optimized for intranasal delivery.