BABOON OPSONOKINE VACCINE STUDY

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. A new immune system stimulator, Opsonokine, has shown great promise in inducing strong immune cell responses (killer cell responses) against both cancer targets and infectious disease targets (Hepatitis B Virus , HBV) in mouse models. The Opsonokine consists of a protein normally involved in the body to activate and recruit cells involved in presenting targets to the immune system (so called Antigen Presenting Cells, APC). This protein, human GMCSF (granulocyte monocyte - colony stimulating factor), is linked to the influenza molecule (GM-CSF-HA). The GM-CSF-HA binds to sialic acid, which is present on virtually all mammalian cells and allows the now "sticky" molecule to bind and stay at the injection site which prevents it from diffusing away. We will evaluate an HBV vaccine, using the HBV target protein HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) mixed with two different concentrations of the Opsonokine. We will study the induction in the baboon of both an anti-HBsAg cytotoxic (killer) T-cell response and B-cell antibody response. This will be done by first immunizing the animals at 0 and 28 days and for the next 14 weeks collect blood samples to determine the immune response. The existing vaccines for HBV are limited to protecting individuals from infection but do not work as therapy in already infected patients. The goal here is to determine if we can generate a proper immune response that ultimately results in a therapy for individuals already infected with a infectious disease virus.