An epitope-focused nanoparticle vaccine for anthrax

Abstract We have successfully developed a highly immunogenicoptimized and lyophilizable epitope focusedbivalent anthrax vaccinereferred to as LND LF VLPusing our novel proprietary platform technology which incorporates the vaccine target sequence into highly immunogenic virus like particlesThis new vaccine targets two distinct neutralizing determinantswhich are not targeted by Biothraxthe currently approved vaccine for anthraxWhen formulated with human use adjuvantsthis new vaccine has potential to elicit very rapid protective immunity with only one or two injectionsOur proposal will focus on two overarching aimsto demonstrate the efficacy of two immunizations with the LND LF VLP in human use adjuvants for protection of rabbits from high dose aerosol spore challenge with Bacillus anthracis Ames strain andto optimize and develop standard operating procedures for the expressionpurification and quality assurance of the LND LFVLP vaccine in a manner enabling eventual scale up production by a contract manufacturing organizationThis new epitope focusedVLP vaccine promises to be a highly stablesafe and strategic new vaccine for anthrax Spores of Banthracisthe causative agent of anthraxcan be weaponized and represent a threat to our armed forces and civilians at largeWe are developing a new highly potent vaccine for anthrax that will be a valuable addition to the immunopreventatives in the Strategic National stockpile