The viral spike protein in grey with the host receptor in red. The Phylex antigen is made of regions of the spike protein close to the receptor. Natural sugars carried by the protein are in blue.
Recent progress in computational analysis allows us to design antigens that are able to elicit neutralizing antibodies, the primary defense against viral infection. These neutralizing antibodies will prevent virus entry into the host cell. The Phylex antigen is based on regions of the viral spike protein close to the host receptor. Our vaccine is designed to protect against the variants of concern of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus prevalent or emerging worldwide, with increased transmissibility, pathogenicity or resistance to first generation vaccines. It is also designed to protect against viral dissemination in the brain and the associated neurological and psychological symptoms of long COVID syndrome.
We have also developed a flexible mRNA nanoparticle platform for the rapid development of our vaccine candidate. A messenger RNA directly encodes for the self-assembling nanoparticle. This highly immunogenic nanoparticle displays 60 copies of our antigen and has a size, geometry and symmetry mimicking the virus. Recent results* show that our mRNA nanoparticle-based vaccine elicits a robust immune response with neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against the delta variant.
*A mRNA vaccine encoding for a RBD 60-mer nanoparticle elicits neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in transgenic K18-hACE2 mice
Frontiers in Immunology original research article published on July 6, 2022
*A mRNA vaccine encoding for a RBD 60-mer nanoparticle elicits neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in transgenic K18-hACE2 mice
Frontiers in Immunology original research article published on July 6, 2022
In our bivalent vaccine antigens are multiplexed on our self-assembling nanoparticle. The multiplex nanoparticle cross-links B cell receptors to activate B cells, the cells secreting the antibodies, and therefore induces a strong immune response against the variants of concern of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.