Live Vector Vaccines Against Agents of Bioterror

描述(申请人提供)：美国正处于真正的生物攻击威胁之下。虽然很早就知道我们的敌人有能力发动生物攻击，但直到2001年9月才清楚地表明，这种威胁是真实存在的。不幸的是，美国完全没有做好应对生物袭击的准备。虽然快速识别释放的制剂、新的治疗干预措施和被动免疫将在生物防御中发挥重要作用，但对主要威胁的预先存在的免疫是不可替代的。这种免疫力既可以在这些试剂释放之前提供，也可以在检测到释放后不久提供。不幸的是，对于大多数感染性病原体来说，目前还不可能提供同样快速保护的疫苗快速接种。此外，确保任何免疫计划都具有高度的安全性和公众的接受度将是至关重要的。因此，我们设想了一种包括减毒活肠道细菌疫苗在内的应对策略。这些疫苗将是非常安全的，并将引起粘膜和全身反应。只需一剂疫苗，它们就可以在免疫后一周内保护许多遭受生物攻击的人。受保护的很可能是那些接触到少量或自然暴露的人，比如处理受污染邮件的邮政工人。然而，预计一些受害者将接触到超常接种，通常是通过气雾剂或胃肠道途径。对于这些人，保护性疫苗接种方案可以包括用粘膜制剂预接种，然后按需加强注射非肠道给药亚单位疫苗。在加强免疫后，受者将产生快速、有力、平衡的免疫反应，这将在粘膜水平上以及通过Th1和Th2系统组件保护他们。这款U19将结合马里兰大学疫苗研发中心和波顿唐恩化学和生物防御中心在开发针对炭疽、鼠疫和肉毒杆菌中毒的肠道疫苗方面的丰富经验。开发的产品将在动物身上进行测试，并确定主要增强反应的特征。在获奖期间，我们将产生一系列候选疫苗，用于立即进行第一阶段人体试验。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The United States is under a genuine threat of biological attack. Whereas it has long been known that our enemies were capable of biological assault, only since September 2001 has it become clear that this threat is real. Unfortunately, the US is woefully unprepared to respond to biological attack. While rapid identification of released agents, novel therapeutic interventions and passive immunization will have vital roles to play in biodefense, there is no substitute for pre-existing immunity to the major threats. This immunity can either be provided before such agents are released, or can be provided soon after release has been detected. Unfortunately, for most infectious agents it is not currently feasible to provide rapid administration of vaccines that provide equally rapid protection. Moreover, it will be vital to ensure that any immunization program have both a high level of safety as well as public acceptance. We therefore envision a response strategy which includes live attenuated enteric bacterial vaccines. These vaccines would be very safe, and would elicit both mucosal and systemic responses. After just a single dose, they would protect many exposed to bioattack, and within one week of immunization. The protected would likely be those exposed to small or natural levels of exposure, such as postal workers handling contaminated mail. However, it is anticipated that some victims would be exposed to supra-normal inocula, typically by the aerosol or gastrointestinal routes. For these individuals, a protective vaccination regimen could include priming with the mucosal agent, followed by on-demand boosting with parenterally administered subunit vaccine. After boosting, the recipients would be expected to generate fast, vigorous, balanced immune responses, which would protect them at the level of the mucosa and via both Th1 and Th2 systemic components. This U19 will combine the vast experience of the University of Maryland School Center for Vaccine Development and the Chemical and Biological Defence Center, Porton Down in the development of enteric vaccines against anthrax, plague and botulism. The products developed will be tested in animals and the characteristics of prime-boost responses determined. During the term of the award, we will generate a series of vaccine candidates for immediate Phase 1 human trials.