Research Group Tumorvirus-specific Vaccination Strategies
apl. Prof. Dr. Martin Müller
Design of prophylactic vaccine antigen. Cross-neutralization epitopes of 8 different HPV types are inserted into a scaffold of thermostable thioredoxin. The antigen is forming heptamers due to the OVX313 domain.
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PANHPVAX -Thermostable and broadly protective HPV vaccine
The N-terminal region of the human papillomavirus (HPV) L2 protein has been shown to contain epitopes able to induce the production of neutralizing and cross-neutralizing antibodies. Using bacterial thioredoxin as a scaffold, we managed to significantly enhance the immunogenicity of putative L2 neutralizing epitopes. In the past years, we extensively optimized the prophylactic vaccine antigen and also determined its safety in an animal model.
We now entered into a clinical development phase and are starting a phase I clinical trial (EudraCT No.: 2021-002584-22). This trial should demonstrate safety and immunogenicity. Our vaccine is based on a single molecule, is highly thermostable and more importantly, induces protective responses against all oncogenic HPV as well as a number of so called ‘low risk’ HPV. Therefore, the vaccine has the potential to provide protection against HPV also in regions where the current HPV vaccines cannot be distributed, which applies to about two thirds of all countries.
Jointly with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg we have developed a standardized validated assay system which allows us the high-throughput detection of neutralizing antibodies against HPV16, HPV18, and other oncogenic HPV types (automated pseudovirion-based HPV-neutralization assay). This assay can be used for a multitude of epidemiological studies. In particular, the duration of the immunization-protection after the introduction of a new vaccine could be monitored with our assay in large study groups.
