STEC Vaccine Chimeric Proteins Broad Serotype Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccines against shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are ineffective in providing broad-spectrum protection against various STEC serotypes, particularly beyond the O157:H7 serotype.
Innovation Solution
Development of an immunogenic formulation comprising one or more chimeric proteins derived from OmpT and Hes proteins of STEC, which can induce protection or immunity against multiple STEC serogroups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vaccines are developed targeting only O157:H7 serotype, then immunogenicity against that specific serotype is achieved, but broad-spectrum protection against other STEC serogroups is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine formulation uses chimeric proteins containing conserved epitopes from OmpT and Hes that are shared across multiple STEC serogroups (O157, O26, O45, O91, O103, O104, O113, O111, O121, O145, O174), enabling a single vaccine to provide universal protection against diverse serotypes rather than serotype-specific protection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the antigenic parameters by selecting conserved protein epitopes (OmpT and Hes) that maintain structural and immunogenic similarity across different serogroups, allowing the immune system to recognize multiple variants through a common antigenic framework
2Reliability
If conventional antigens (Stx, O antigen, flagellum, LEE proteins) are used, then immunogenicity is achieved, but protection against multiple serogroups is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes the conserved epitopic regions from OmpT and Hes proteins that are shared across multiple serogroups, separating these protective antigens from the variable regions that differ between serotypes, thereby creating a vaccine that targets the common protective elements
Solution Approach 2:
The vaccine employs chimeric proteins that composite multiple antigenic elements from OmpT and Hes, creating a hybrid antigen structure that combines immunogenicity with broad serogroup recognition capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an immunogenic formulation that induces protection against Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC), the formulation comprising: one or more chimeric proteins derived wholly or in part from OmpT and Hes proteins of STEC; and at least one physiologically or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier and/or diluent.