Chimeric MOMP Polypeptide for Chlamydia Vaccine Production

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current vaccines based on the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis are costly, difficult to produce, and have limited success in animal experiments, while synthetic peptides may not function effectively in a synthetic context, failing to induce a protective immune response.

Innovation Solution

A polypeptide comprising two amino acid sequences separated by a linker, each containing epitopes that mimic the MOMP protein, is developed to stimulate both T-cell and B-cell responses, offering improved production and purification ease while maintaining immunological effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the total MOMP protein is used as a vaccine, then immunological response is induced, but production is tedious and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmunological responseVSAvoidproduction difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The MOMP protein is divided into two specific amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) that contain the essential epitopes. These segments are linked together to form a chimera that maintains immunogenicity while being easier to produce than the complete protein.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and retains only the critical immunogenic portions of the MOMP protein (specific amino acid sequences containing epitopes) while removing non-essential regions. This extraction creates a simplified construct that is more feasible to produce while preserving the key protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If synthetic peptides combining specific epitopes are used, then production is simplified, but the peptides may not be functional in synthetic context

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidimmunological effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite structure by linking two specific amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) that each contain epitopes from different regions of the MOMP protein. This composite chimera preserves the three-dimensional structure and functionality of the epitopes while enabling simplified production, overcoming the limitation of simple synthetic peptides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 polypeptide provides a cost-effective, easily producible, and stable antigenic response against Chlamydia trachomatis, capable of inducing protective immunity across multiple serovars with enhanced stability and flexibility in administration routes.

Implementation Method 1

the two membrane spanning parts may interact to form a hydrophobic structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic interaction: Van der Waals Force

Data Source

PatentEP2576602B1Chimeric MOMP antigen, method and use
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 SPIXIA BIOTECH
  • EP2576602B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2576602B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2576602B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention regards polypeptides capable of eliciting an immunological response that is protective against Chlamydia trachomatis. The polypeptide comprises a first amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2. Furthermore, production of these polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also provided.