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Understanding immune mechanisms induced by pulmonary vaccination. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms of immune induction of a novel lung vaccination strategy. The ability to deliver vaccines that induce potent lung and body wide immune responses in a safe and efficient manner has wide implications for both human and animal health. Ultimately, the vaccine will be delivered to the lung as stable dry powders in an attempt to negate the need for a transport cold chain and therefor ....Understanding immune mechanisms induced by pulmonary vaccination. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms of immune induction of a novel lung vaccination strategy. The ability to deliver vaccines that induce potent lung and body wide immune responses in a safe and efficient manner has wide implications for both human and animal health. Ultimately, the vaccine will be delivered to the lung as stable dry powders in an attempt to negate the need for a transport cold chain and therefore facilitate the distribution of the vaccines to remote areas. The project will not only benefit the Australian biotechnology industry but also the community at large and in particular those in remote areas without access to modern medical facilities.Read moreRead less
Designing effective Gram negative bacterial vaccines. There is a need for the development of novel vaccines for use in animals and humans. This project will to address this need by studying the functions of bacterial 'blebs' as potent inducers of the host immune system and by developing these nano-sized particles for use as safe and cost-effective vaccine candidates.
Immune-imprinting nanoparticles (iNPs). This research promises new classes of immune-imprinting, biodegradable nanoparticles (iNPs) with anti-inflammatory properties. The engineering of such particles requires fundamental understanding of their properties that enable specific cellular interactions to regulate immunity with new anti-inflammatory pathways. For pulmonary delivery, spray-dried amino acid microspheres with tailored surfaces as carriers can be generated using the innovative microfluid ....Immune-imprinting nanoparticles (iNPs). This research promises new classes of immune-imprinting, biodegradable nanoparticles (iNPs) with anti-inflammatory properties. The engineering of such particles requires fundamental understanding of their properties that enable specific cellular interactions to regulate immunity with new anti-inflammatory pathways. For pulmonary delivery, spray-dried amino acid microspheres with tailored surfaces as carriers can be generated using the innovative microfluidic drying approach. The potential applications of iNPs are wide-ranging and are not restricted to pulmonary targeting. The potential commercial implications for Australia's emerging biopharmaceutical industry are substantial.Read moreRead less
Enhanced multivalent vaccine responses using a novel vaccine vector system. Enhanced multivalent vaccine responses using a novel vaccine vector system. This project aims to develop a multicomponent vaccine system to deliver equal effectiveness against several disease targets in a single administration. New and innovative vaccine design strategies incorporating economical commercial production processes are urgently needed for new and existing human and animal health applications. A vaccine capab ....Enhanced multivalent vaccine responses using a novel vaccine vector system. Enhanced multivalent vaccine responses using a novel vaccine vector system. This project aims to develop a multicomponent vaccine system to deliver equal effectiveness against several disease targets in a single administration. New and innovative vaccine design strategies incorporating economical commercial production processes are urgently needed for new and existing human and animal health applications. A vaccine capable of targeting multiple diseases by a single injection is an obvious way to expedite future vaccine development and deployment. However, the recipient’s immune system can repress equivalent responses to these multicomponent vaccines. This project’s research is expected to address these problems, and underpin the future commercial development of this vaccine platform.Read moreRead less
Poly(amino acids) as immune stimulators. This project aims to develop nanoparticles built from natural hydrophobic amino acids as an immune stimulatory delivery system for peptide antigens. Currently available immune stimulants (adjuvants) are often toxic and/or are poorly chemically defined fragments of bacteria or toxins and vary from batch-to-batch. New adjuvants are in high demand; especially to facilitate the use of optimal, but weakly immunogenic, peptide antigens. It is expected that the ....Poly(amino acids) as immune stimulators. This project aims to develop nanoparticles built from natural hydrophobic amino acids as an immune stimulatory delivery system for peptide antigens. Currently available immune stimulants (adjuvants) are often toxic and/or are poorly chemically defined fragments of bacteria or toxins and vary from batch-to-batch. New adjuvants are in high demand; especially to facilitate the use of optimal, but weakly immunogenic, peptide antigens. It is expected that the proposed project will develop a novel efficient, safe and notably biodegradable self-adjuvanting delivery system that can be fully customised to match an antigen of choice. This foundational research should provide important advances for commercial immune stimulatory applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101553
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix- ....A flexible virus-like particle delivery platform for next-generation vaccines. Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid proteins self-assemble into spherical protein shells approximately 45 nm in diameter. Such virus-like particles (VLPs) are of considerable interest as bionanotechnological tools. The unique flexibility provided by MPyV VLPs will be exploited by exploring the ability of the interior cavity to retain bioactive cargos while engineering novel functionality on the exterior surface by 'mix-and-match' assembly of VLPs from modified components. As a proof of concept for next-generation vaccines that stimulate much needed, broadly protective responses against infectious diseases, model antigens will be delivered to specific immune cells using this nano-container.Read moreRead less
The role of hyaluronan in antigen and immune cell trafficking. This project aims to examine how hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronan (a structural component of the skin), affects antigen and cell trafficking to lymph nodes. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the role of hyaluronan in antigen presentation and immunity and to build an interdisciplinary collaboration across immunology, lymphatic transport and material science. The expected outcomes of the project are t ....The role of hyaluronan in antigen and immune cell trafficking. This project aims to examine how hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronan (a structural component of the skin), affects antigen and cell trafficking to lymph nodes. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the role of hyaluronan in antigen presentation and immunity and to build an interdisciplinary collaboration across immunology, lymphatic transport and material science. The expected outcomes of the project are the development of new knowledge and new models to explore immunity, interdisciplinary training for researchers and post graduate students and a roadmap of the importance of hyaluronan in antigen trafficking. Read moreRead less
Fundamentals and applications of continuous-flow microprocessing systems based on supercritical fluids and gas expanded liquids. Microchemical systems have considerable potential in the area of chemical discovery and development. Practical application of these systems requires fundamental understanding and strategies for conversion to appropriate scale. The aim of this project is to overcome such challenges in the development of microstructured continuous-flow technology.
Liposaccharide based peptide and vaccine delivery systems: improving the bioavailability and immunogenicity of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone. This project aims to develop new lipid- and sugar-based drug delivery systems for Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), a hormone which regulates the level of enzymes involved in fertility conditions and prostate cancers. This technology could be extended to significantly increase the number of drugs available on the market, such as peptide ....Liposaccharide based peptide and vaccine delivery systems: improving the bioavailability and immunogenicity of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone. This project aims to develop new lipid- and sugar-based drug delivery systems for Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), a hormone which regulates the level of enzymes involved in fertility conditions and prostate cancers. This technology could be extended to significantly increase the number of drugs available on the market, such as peptide drugs and vaccines.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional biodegradable nanoparticles for enhanced DNA vaccine delivery. DNA vaccine, which shows better immunological and economic merits than conventional vaccines, suffers clinical failure due to the difficulty of delivering intact DNA molecules to relevant cells. This project seeks to develop smart polymer nanospheres to protect the DNA molecules from premature degradation in order to improve its efficacy.