FMDV-E2 Fusion Protein Vaccine for Long-Lasting Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) are not effective in providing long-term immunity and pose safety concerns due to incomplete inactivation and risks of virus escape during production, necessitating frequent booster injections and strict manufacturing controls.

Innovation Solution

Development of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an FMDV-E2 fusion protein, where E2 is dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus, which is used to create a vaccine that elicits a protective immune response without the risks associated with inactivated virus vaccines, by forming particles resembling natural FMDV virions for enhanced immunogenicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If inactivated virus vaccines are used, then immunity is provided, but long-term immunity is not achieved and frequent booster injections are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of immunityVSAvoidfrequency of booster injections
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the vaccine composition from inactivated whole virus to recombinant fusion proteins (FMDV capsid proteins VP1, VP2, VP3 fused to E2 scaffold). This parameter change enables the vaccine to induce long-lasting immunity without requiring frequent boosters, directly resolving the contradiction between immunity duration and booster frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite fusion proteins by combining FMDV capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, or VP3) with the E2 protein scaffold from Geobacillus stearothermophilus. This composite structure presents multiple epitopes in a stable, immunogenic format that elicits strong and lasting immune responses, eliminating the need for frequent booster injections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If inactivated virus vaccines are used, then vaccination is achieved, but safety concerns arise due to incomplete inactivation and virus escape risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of vaccineVSAvoidrisks of virus escape and incomplete inactivation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential immunogenic components (capsid proteins VP1, VP2, or VP3) from the complete FMDV particle and presents them as fusion proteins on the E2 scaffold. This extraction eliminates the viral genome and other harmful viral elements while retaining the protective antigens, thereby ensuring safety by removing the source of potential virus escape

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a safe copy of the FMDV capsid proteins fused to the E2 scaffold, which mimics the immunogenic properties of the natural virus without containing the actual viral genetic material. This copying approach allows the vaccine to induce immunity while being inherently safe from virus escape risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If inactivated virus vaccines are used, then vaccination coverage is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to strict controls required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaccination coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing control requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical and chemical inactivation process with a recombinant protein expression system. Instead of using physical/chemical methods to inactivate whole virus (which require strict controls), the vaccine is produced by expressing fusion proteins in heterologous host cells, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing control requirements while maintaining high vaccination coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3380119B1FMDV and e2 fusion proteins and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANIMAL HEALTH USA INC
  • EP3380119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3380119B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3380119B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention encompasses FMDV vaccines or compositions. The vaccine or composition may be a vaccine or composition containing FMDV antigens. The invention also encompasses recombinant vectors encoding and expressing FMDV antigens, epitopes or immunogens which can be used to protect animals, in particular ovines, bovines, caprines, or swines, against FMDV. The invention further encompasses methods of making or producing antigenic polypeptides or antigens.