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E. coli: The ideal transport for next-gen vaccines?

E. coli-based transport capsule.

This E. coli-based transport capsule is designed to help next-generation vaccines do a more efficient and effective job than today’s immunizations. Image: University at Buffalo

By CORY NEALON

Published July 6, 2016 This content is archived.

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“It’s a bit counterintuitive, given what you hear about E. coli, but there are many strains of the bacteria, most of which are perfectly normal in the body, that have great potential to fight disease. ”
Blaine Pfeifer, associate professor
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Most people recoil at the thought of ingesting E. coli. But what if the headline-grabbing bacteria could be used to fight disease?

Researchers experimenting with harmless strains of E. coli — yes, the majority of E. coli are safe and important to healthy human digestion — are working toward that goal. They have developed an E. coli-based transport capsule designed to help next-generation vaccines do a more efficient and effective job than today’s immunizations.

The research, described in a study published July 1 in the journal Science Advances, highlights the capsule’s success in fighting pneumococcal disease, an infection that can result in pneumonia, sepsis, ear infections and meningitis.

“It’s a bit counterintuitive, given what you hear about E. coli, but there are many strains of the bacteria, most of which are perfectly normal in the body, that have great potential to fight disease,” says Blaine A. Pfeifer, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Pfeifer is the study’s co-lead author, along with his former student, Charles H. Jones, who is leading efforts to commercialize the biotechnology as CEO and founder of Buffalo-based startup Abcombi Biosciences.

The core of the transport capsule the team developed is harmless E. coli. Around the bacteria, the researchers wrapped a synthetic polymer — called poly (beta amino ester) — that resembles a chain link fence. The positive-charged polymer, combined with the negative-charged bacteria cell wall, create a sort of hybrid capsule.

Zoom image: The core of the transport capsule is harmless E. coli. A synthetic polymer — poly (beta amino ester) or PBAE — wraps around the bacteria. The positive-charged polymer, combined with the negative-charged bacteria cell wall, create a hybrid capsule. Image: University at Buffalo. The core of the transport capsule is harmless E. coli. A synthetic polymer — poly (beta amino ester) or PBAE — wraps around the bacteria. The positive-charged polymer, combined with the negative-charged bacteria cell wall, create a hybrid capsule. Image: University at Buffalo.

The core of the transport capsule is harmless E. coli. A synthetic polymer — poly (beta amino ester) or PBAE — wraps around the bacteria. The positive-charged polymer, combined with the negative-charged bacteria cell wall, create a hybrid capsule. Image: University at Buffalo.

To test the capsule, the researchers inserted a protein-based vaccine, also being commercialized by Abcombi, designed to fight pneumococcal disease. The results, when tested in mice, were impressive.

The capsule’s hybrid design provided:

  • Both passive and active targeting of specific immune cells called antigen-presenting cells that trigger an immune response.
  • Natural and multicomponent adjuvant properties, which enhance the body’s immune response.
  • Dual intracellular delivery mechanisms to direct a particular immune response.
  • Simultaneous production and delivery of the components (antigens) required for a vaccine.
  • Strong vaccination protection capabilities against pneumococcal disease.

It’s also relatively inexpensive to create and flexible in terms of use. For example, the capsule could be used as a delivery device for therapies that target cancer, viral-based infectious disease and other illnesses.

Additional UB authors of the study include Yi Li, Marie Beitelshees, Lei Fang, Mahmoud Kamal Ahmadi and Mingfu Chen, all of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Bruce Davidson and Paul Knight III, both of the Department of Anesthesiology; Randall J. Smith Jr. of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Stelios T. Andreadis of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Other additional authors include Andrew Hill of Abcombi Biosciences and Anders Hakansson, formerly of UB but now with Lund University in Sweden.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program at UB.