Self-Assembling Pseudo-Viral Particles for Standardized Allergen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current allergen immunotherapy methods using natural allergenic extracts, recombinant allergens, or peptides are inefficient due to poor representativeness of allergen diversity and require complex, costly production processes for virus-like particles (VLPs).
Innovation Solution
Development of a type I or type II transmembrane fusion protein that self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) in eukaryotic cells, comprising a signal peptide, a protein or peptide of interest, a coiled-coil domain, and a membrane-anchoring domain, allowing easy synthesis and standardization of allergen presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If natural allergenic extracts are used for immunotherapy, then the treatment is simple to administer, but the efficacy is poor due to poor representativeness of allergen diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex allergen mixture into individual recombinant allergen proteins that can be precisely controlled and standardized. Each allergen is produced separately as a recombinant protein, allowing for precise composition control while maintaining immunotherapeutic efficacy through representative allergen selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of allergen delivery by using recombinant proteins with controlled purity, concentration, and composition. This allows precise standardization of allergen content while maintaining immunogenicity, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficacy.
2Manufacturing precision
If recombinant allergens are used for immunotherapy, then the composition can be standardized, but the immunogenicity is weak in soluble form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite formulation by combining multiple recombinant allergen proteins in specific ratios that mimic natural allergen diversity. This composite approach enhances immunogenicity while maintaining the standardization benefits of recombinant production, as the combination of multiple allergens provides broader immune stimulation.
3Reliability
If virus-like particles are used to enhance immunogenicity, then the immune response is strongly activated, but the production process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential immunogenic function from complex virus-like particles and achieves it through simpler recombinant allergen proteins. By taking out only the necessary immunogenic components and delivering them through standardized recombinant formulations, the patent maintains strong immune activation while eliminating the production complexity of VLPs.
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 VLPs effectively stimulate allergen-specific IgG production with minimal basophil activation, providing a standardized and efficient immunotherapy solution.
Implementation Method 1
Development of a type I or type II transmembrane fusion protein that self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) in eukaryotic cells
Implementation Method 2
a coiled-coil domain which does not originate from a virus
Implementation Method 3
a domain for anchoring in the plasma membrane, consisting of a transmembrane segment and a cytosolic segment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a type I or II transmembrane fusion protein comprising, successively:a) optionally, a signal peptide;b) a protein or a peptide of interest;c) a coiled-coil domain; andd) a domain for anchoring in the plasma membrane, consisting of a transmembrane segment and a cytosolic segment.It also relates to the virus-like particles obtained with this fusion protein.