Chlamydia Antigens Inducing Th1 Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vaccine development for Chlamydia trachomatis lacks effective antigens that induce a specific CD4+ Th1 cell-mediated response, crucial for protective immunity, and there is a need for identification of proteins that can elicit both cell-mediated and antibody responses for enhanced protection against infection.

Innovation Solution

Identification and utilization of specific Chlamydia antigens such as CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, and others for immunization, which are capable of inducing a CD4+ Th1 cell-mediated response and eliciting antibodies that recognize and neutralize the wild-type Chlamydia protein, including variants and fragments thereof, to provide protective immunity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional vaccine approaches are used, then general immune response is elicited, but specific CD4+ Th1 cell-mediated response is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective immunityVSAvoidTh1 cell-mediated response

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the Chlamydia antigen into specific peptide sequences (e.g., CT733, CT153, CT601) that are designed to be presented by MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. This segmentation allows the vaccine to specifically target and activate Th1 cell-mediated responses rather than eliciting a general immune response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of antigen structure by identifying and utilizing specific peptide sequences with particular properties (e.g., hydrophobicity, charge distribution, MHC binding motifs) that optimize their presentation to CD4+ Th1 cells. This parameter optimization ensures reliable Th1 polarization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If B-cell and antibody responses are enhanced, then protection against re-infection is improved, but decisive role in primary infection resolution is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against re-infectionVSAvoidimmune response mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the targeting of both CD4+ Th1 cells and B-cells by selecting antigens that can be processed and presented via MHC class II pathway to T cells while simultaneously serving as targets for antibody production. This dual-targeting approach combines cell-mediated and humoral immunity in a single vaccine strategy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple Chlamydia antigens are identified, then vaccine efficacy is improved, but complexity of antigen selection and formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaccine efficacyVSAvoidantigen formulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and prioritizes a core set of key antigens (CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381) from the full complement of Chlamydia proteins. This extraction focuses the vaccine formulation on the most critical antigens that elicit protective immunity, reducing formulation complexity while maintaining efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3549602A1Chlamydia antigens

Publication Date: 2019.10.09 GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS SA

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AI summary

The invention provides Chlamydia antigens for use in the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In particular, the invention provides antigens CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381, CT255, CT341, CT716, CT745, CT387, CT812, CT869, CT166, CT175, CT163, CT214, CT721, CT127, CT043, CT823 and/or CT600 from C. trachomatis for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.