Genetically Modified Bacteria Emitting Peptides for Viral Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccines and treatments for SARS-CoV-2 lack effective and stable intranasal delivery methods, with monoclonal antibodies being large and unstable, and there is a need for a solution that can neutralize the virus at the entry stage in the nasal cavity to prevent transmission.
Innovation Solution
Genetically modified bacteria, such as Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Streptococcus salivarius M18, are used to produce and emit small peptides that neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the ACE2 receptor, providing a nasal and oral vaccine that achieves high binding and neutralization efficacy without mutational resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monoclonal antibodies are used for intranasal delivery, then neutralization efficacy is achieved, but stability and delivery effectiveness deteriorate due to large molecular size and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large monoclonal antibody molecule into smaller peptide fragments that retain the essential binding and neutralization functionality. These smaller peptides are more stable and suitable for intranasal delivery while maintaining the ability to block viral entry by targeting the ACE2-receptor interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the critical functional domains from the full-length monoclonal antibody - specifically the regions responsible for binding to the viral spike protein and blocking ACE2 interaction. These extracted peptide sequences are then optimized for stability and delivery while discarding the bulk of the antibody structure that contributes to size and instability issues.
2Reliability
If traditional adaptive immunological means are used, then immune response is generated, but binding and neutralization efficacy is insufficient compared to the needed high-level protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs peptides designed in advance with predetermined high-affinity binding characteristics to the viral spike protein and ACE2 receptor. Rather than relying on the body's adaptive immune system to generate antibodies, the peptides are pre-engineered to immediately block viral entry upon administration, providing faster and more reliable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes peptide sequences to achieve dramatically higher binding affinity parameters compared to natural adaptive immune responses. By carefully selecting and engineering amino acid sequences, the peptides achieve binding strengths and neutralization rates that exceed what typical adaptive immunity can produce, ensuring superior viral blockage.
3Reliability
If high concentration of viral inhibitor is delivered into the respiratory system, then prophylactic protection is achieved, but delivery complexity and stability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses small, stable peptide molecules that can be easily formulated and delivered without complex delivery systems. These peptides are designed to be sufficiently stable for intranasal administration but do not require the sophisticated delivery infrastructure needed for larger biologics, simplifying the overall delivery system while achieving effective prophylactic concentrations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vaccine effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 at the entry stage in the nasal cavity, offering prophylactic protection and preventing transmission with a biophysics order of magnitude higher efficacy than traditional adaptive immunological means, making it impossible for variants to develop resistance.
Implementation Method 1
small peptides which neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the ACE2 receptor
Implementation Method 2
peptides that show extreme binding and neutralization to SARS-CoV-2
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition to prevent transmission of a pathogen (i.e., including SARS-CoV-2 amongst other pathogens), the pharmaceutical composition comprising: genetically modified bacteria; sequences of small peptides; and pharmaceutical excipients, wherein the genetically modified oral bacteria are modified to translate, produce, and emit the sequences of small peptides which neutralize a pathogen (i.e., including SARS-CoV-2 amongst other pathogens), wherein transgenic technology is used to modify the genetically modified oral bacteria to add genes in genetically modified oral bacteria that are transcribed to produce small peptides from the sequences of small peptides so added, wherein the sequences of small peptides show extreme binding and neutralization to a pathogen (i.e., including SARS-CoV-2 amongst other pathogens) but not to host proteins or processes, and wherein the pharmaceutical excipients aid the oral and/or nasal administration of the pharmaceutical composition.