Towards a conjugate vaccine based on anthrax protective antigen

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Authors
Whalen, Monica
Gonti, Srinivas
Bann, James G.
Advisors
Issue Date
2023
Type
Abstract
Poster
Keywords
Anthrax toxin , Antigen processing
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Whalen, Monica, Gonti, Srinivas and Bann, James G. Towards a conjugate vaccine based on anthrax protective antigen. -- Fyre in STEM Showcase, 2023.
Abstract

Anthrax toxin is an AB toxin and made up of two components. The A components are Lethal Factor and Edema factor. B component is protective antigen (PA). PA is the part of the toxin that directly targets and disrupts host immune cells. PA has high affinity binding to capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) which promotes cellular toxicity within the host cell. CMG2 is a receptor expressed on antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells or macrophages. Antigen presenting cells can produce naïve and memory T cells, which helps with immunity towards a bacterium. We are looking at high affinity between PA and CMG2 specifically on dendritic cells to create a hybrids vaccine which will advance T cell levels. To test this, we are first looking at a conjugate between PA and Spy0469, a surface protein on Streptococcus pyogenes. We are looking at Spy0469 because humans already have high T cells which respond to Spy0469 due to infections in childhood. Using this information, we want to make a Pa conjugate based on the Spytag Spycatcher system. Spytag is a peptide that has a high binding affinity to the surface protein Spycatcher. Using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and mutagenesis we look at making a mutant E. coli bacterium.

Table of Contents
Description
Poster and abstract presented at the FYRE in STEM Showcase, 2023.
Research project completed at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Publisher
Wichita State University
Journal
Book Title
Series
FYRE in STEM 2023
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
EISSN