Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Characterization and optimization of a novel vaccine for protection against Lyme borreliosis

6^th Euro Global Summit and Expo on Vaccines & Vaccination

August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Urban Lundberg

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and there is no vaccine available
for disease prevention. However, it has been shown that the disease can be averted by immunization with an OspA based
vaccine (LYMErix™). The majority of LB cases in Europe are caused by four different Borrelia species expressing six different
OspA serotypes, whereas in the US only one of these serotypes is present. The various pathogenic Borrelia species express
different OspA serotypes on their surface: B. burgdorferi (serotype 1), B. afzelii (serotype 2), B. garinii (serotypes, 3, 5 and 6)
and B. bavariensis (serotype 4). Outer surface protein A (OspA) is one of the dominant antigens expressed by the spirochetes
when present in the tick vector. Immunization with the C-terminal part of OspA is sufficient for protection against infection
transmitted by Ixodes ticks. In order to target the Borrelia species expressing the six different OspA serotypes, we have designed
a multivalent OspA-based vaccine. The vaccine includes three proteins, each containing the C-terminal half of two OspA
serotypes linked to form a heterodimer. In order to stabilize the C-terminal fragment and thus preserve important structural
epitopes, disulfide bonds were introduced and the immunogenicity increased by addition of a lipidation signal. The OspA
heterodimers were highly purified with low amounts of endotoxin, host cell proteins and host cell DNA. All three proteins
were at least 85% triacylated which ensured high immunogenicity. Active immunization with the adjuvanted Lyme borreliosis
vaccine protected mice from a challenge with spirochetes expressing either OspA serotype 1, 2 or 5, using infected ticks or in
vitro grown bacteria as a challenge. Further immunological analyses (ELISA, surface binding and growth inhibition) indicated
that the vaccine can provide protection against the majority of human pathogenic Borrelia species. This rational designed
OspA-based vaccine is therefore suitable for global prophylaxis of Lyme borreliosis.

Biography :

Urban Lundberg received his PhD in 1991 from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Subsequent to his work at the Karolinska Institute, he completed Post-doc at Yale
University in the lab of Sidney Altman. In 1995 he moved to the Department of Microbiology and Genetics, University Vienna, as an Assistant Professor. After five
years at Baxter AG he joined Intercell AG, now Valneva Austria GmbH. At present he is heading the preclinical vaccine development department.