Streptococcus Vaccine Epitope Targeting Autoimmune Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccines against group A beta hemolytic streptococcus do not effectively prevent autoimmune responses that lead to rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease, as they primarily focus on humoral responses and may trigger autoimmune diseases due to incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis.
Innovation Solution
Development of a new vaccine using synthetic peptides and recombinant proteins containing epitopes from the carboxy-terminal region of protein M, specifically targeting T and B cell responses to prevent autoimmune reactions, with two formulations based on 52 and 87 amino acid sequences, and a modified production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current vaccines focus on humoral responses, then antibody production is improved, but autoimmune responses triggering rheumatic fever are not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine changes the immunological parameters by targeting both humoral (antibody) and cellular (T-cell) responses simultaneously. This is achieved by using recombinant proteins containing specific epitopes from the carboxy-terminal region of protein M that are designed to elicit T-helper cell responses in addition to antibody production, thereby modifying the immune response profile to be more comprehensive and less prone to autoimmunity
Solution Approach 2:
The recombinant proteins containing specific epitopes from the carboxy-terminal region of protein M serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between humoral and cellular immunity. These epitopes act as mediators that can simultaneously engage B cells for antibody production and T-helper cells for cellular immunity, creating a balanced immune response that prevents autoimmune complications
2Ease of manufacture
If vaccines use incomplete understanding of pathogenesis, then development is simplified, but autoimmune diseases may be triggered
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine development process performs preliminary actions by conducting extensive in silico analysis, in vitro testing, and in vivo validation before final vaccine formulation. This includes predicting T-cell epitopes, testing for cross-reactivity with human proteins, and validating immunogenicity in animal models, thereby preventing autoimmune risks before the vaccine is deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The development process incorporates multiple feedback loops including in silico prediction validation, in vitro immunogenicity testing, and in vivo safety assessment. Each stage provides feedback to refine the epitope selection and vaccine formulation, ensuring that autoimmune risks are identified and eliminated before final vaccine production
3Device complexity
If vaccines target only humoral responses, then production is simpler, but protection against rheumatic fever is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vaccine formulation is segmented into multiple recombinant proteins, each containing specific epitopes from different serotypes of group A streptococcus. This segmentation allows the vaccine to target multiple strains while maintaining a manageable formulation complexity, and each segment is designed to elicit both humoral and cellular responses
Data Source
AI summary
VACCIN AGAINST GROUP A BETA HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS AND RESPECTIVE PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THEREOF, which predicts the production of recombinant protein cloned from the gene emm5, which contains a sequence of oligonucleotides corresponding to 52 and/or 87 amino acid residues capable of protection, isolated after the sequential molecular identification of the epitopes from the M protein carboxy-terminal region, differing in 01 amino acid residue, identified by antibodies and T lymphocytes of health human beings and of patients carriers of rheumatic fever, capable of generating a protective response by antibodies depending on the T lymphocytes; prevention of the development of the autoimmune disease by the selected epitope was evaluated in vitro with T lymphocytes from the cardiac tissue of patients with lesions arising out of rheumatic fever.