Researchers develop oral vaccines against TB and flu
Could also be used against C. difficile infections
Scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London in the UK have developed oral vaccines against TB and influenza that could also prevent C. difficile infections.
Lead researcher Professor Simon Cutting, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University, developed the vaccines with the use of probiotic spores. He carried out trials to analyse the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which caught the attention of microbiologists due to its ability to form spores that can last millions of years before germinating under the appropriate environmental conditions.
Professor Cutting discovered that the Bacillus spores act as vehicles to carry antigens and promote an immune response.
‘Rather than requiring needle delivery, vaccines based on Bacillus spores can be delivered via a nasal spray, or as on oral liquid or capsule,’ he said.
‘Alternatively they can be administered via a small soluble film placed under the tongue, in a similar way to modern breath fresheners. As spores are exceptionally stable, vaccines based on Bacillus do not require cold-chain storage alleviating a further issue with current vaccine approaches.’
As well as eliminating the pain of needles, oral vaccines have the advantages of being safer to administer, inexpensive to produce and easier to store.
Professor Cutting has conducted pre-clinical trials of Bacillus-based vaccines for a number of diseases including TB, influenza and tetanus, but most recently he has been investigating the potential for their use against C. difficile.
‘Currently, there is no vaccine against C. difficile, and although several approaches are currently undergoing clinical trials, none is expected to provide full protection, and new solutions are urgently needed,’ said Professor Cutting.
‘Bacillus-based vaccines offer distinct advantages as unlike other approaches, oral delivery can cause a more specific immune response in the gastrointenstinal tract to fully eliminate C. difficile.’
Professor Cutting has recently received private seed investment to form Holloway Immunology, to develop the Bacillus vaccine technology and concentrate on vaccines for TB, C. difficile infection and flu. The firm is currently looking for investors to help fast track the implementation of these vaccines.
