Identification and evaluation of peptides for active and passive immunization against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Ingo Birger Autenrieth, since 7/2013; Privatdozent Dr. Dirk Linke
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2012 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 217957200

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is common throughout the environment, and causes serious health problems when it infects humans. There are over 5 million cases of Pseudomonas infection in Europe, the USA and Japan each year. Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa is increasingly common, creating expanding need in an area of critical importance to human health. However, until today, no P. aeruginosa vaccine has obtained market authorization. Here, we propose to develop a peptide-based P. aeruginosa vaccine as well as specific humanized monoclonal antibodies in an interdisciplinary approach linking novel bioinformatics tools and biochemistry with microbiology, immunology and animal models. From the literature, but also from a database in which all proteins of sequenced Pseudomonas strains are clustered according to sequence homology and subcellular localization, suitable immunogenic peptides are identified. In silico predictions of immunogenicity and surface localization are verified by proteomics of P. aeruginosa outer membranes and by immunological techniques. Candidate peptides are synthesized, and recombinant versions, comprising multiple target peptides, are produced recombinantly. These multi-epitope vaccine proteins will be constructed using established protein scaffolds. Last but not least, the protective potential of these preparations is tested in various in vitro and in animal model systems.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Norway
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Gerd Döring, until 7/2013 (†)