Optimisation of bacteriophage M13-based DNA and chimeric (DNA/ protein) vaccines

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Bacteriophage (phage) offer the potential to deliver both protein and DNA vaccines within thesame construct. They also promise extremely rapid development and manufacturingtimescales, since the DNA vaccine cassette can be synthesised to express antigens forvirtually any pathogen, literally within days following sequence identification. Phage areextremely robust, and can be delivered orally or in combination with other vaccines, andbeing particulate antigens, are naturally targeted to antigen presenting cells.BigDNA holds patents surrounding bacteriophage-based DNA and DNA/protein (chimeric)vaccines. To date, our focus has been on using bacteriophage lambda. The company nowwishes to explore the potential for using phage M13 as an alternative vehicle for thistechnology. M13 is extremely well characterised with an excellent manufacturing base, andoffers enormous technological potential. Phage-based DNA vaccine technology has beendeveloped and patented by BigDNA in the UK, and has already attracted overseas investment,commercial collaborative R & D activity, and a licensing agreement with big pharma.This project aims to investigate the potential of a range of modifications designed to optimiseand develop M13 as a platform for this purpose which should result in a vaccine platform andproducts capable of addressing a wide range of infectious diseases and cancers for whichcurrent vaccines either do not exist, or alternatively, cannot be developed in the rapidtimescales likely required for pandemic disease indications.