![Vaccine platforms Antigen discovery and presentation CRO](/upload_mm/e/6/e/99cf6efe-275d-4747-8700-961e41b5b056_3a%20Vaccine%20platform_ddb4b6aa_750x400.jpg)
Antigen discovery and presentation
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) is involved in vaccine development projects for specific pathogens in close collaboration with public and private clients. We have multiple vaccine development strategies for antigen discovery of both viruses and bacteria, and we can monitor the effect of antigen presentation.
Antigen discovery
Vaccine development starts with antigen discovery. Vaccine antigens should evoke a protective immune response. WBVR has multiple vaccine development strategies for both viruses and bacteria. Whole genome sequencing techniques are used to identify new vaccine candidates, especially for bacterial pathogens. We have our own in house sequencing facilities, as well as bioinformatic support to interpret the complex data. Together with pathogen experts, the data are "translated" into biologically relevant information to allow in silico design of vaccines. Further evaluation of vaccine efficacy alows the most promising vaccine candidates to be selected.
Example: Rift Valley fever (RVFV)
Example: Bluetongue virus (BTV)
Antigen presentation
A range of strategies can be followed to present these antigens to the immune system of the host ranging from the use of live attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines, vector vaccines and protein vaccines to RNA or DNA vaccines. Depending on the nature of the antigen, immunomodulation is required to create effective vaccines. Adjuvants are one of the best known forms of immunomodulation. We can compare the efficacy of several different adjuvants. Furthermore, we have research lines exploring the addition of immunostimulatory compounds to vaccines to increase efficacy, such as toll-like receptor ligands or cytokines. WBVR can monitor the effect of antigen presentation by studying host responses.
Vaccine platforms
In addition to the development of vaccines suitable for one specific disease, WBVR develops vaccines using a platform technology. In general, vaccine platforms are innovative antigen presentation methodologies suitable for different pathogens or antigens. The advantage of vaccine platforms is that these often speed up the vaccine development.
Example: BunyaVax
Contact our experts
Please feel free to contact the experts of our contract research organization (CRO) if you have a question concerning antigen discovery and presentation.
Vaccine development strategies
Reverse genetics | Genetic manipulation of viruses to allow design of viral vaccines |
T-cell epitope prediction | Bioinformatics toolbox to predict and prioritise vaccine candidates |
Transposon Sequencing (TnSeq) | Strategy to select bacterial genes essential for survival |
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) | Applicable to viral and bacterial in silico vaccin design |
Reverse Vaccinology | In silico prediction / prioritisation of bacterial vaccine candidates (based on NGS) |
Proteome/ORFeome arrays | Pathogen ORFeome wide screening for immune-dominant antigenic candidates |
Vaccine platforms
Nanoparticles | Platform technology that allows presentation of viral antigens on virus like particles |
Replicon Technology (BunyaVax) | Virus like particles that can be used as carrier for different vaccine antigens |