The high cost and limited serotypical coverage, added by serotype replacement, have led to efforts to find novel approaches that target all strains of S. pneumoniae.
We work to examine if upper aerodigestive tract exposure to S. mitis induces a state of immunity that modulates carriage state and infection by S. pneumoniae. Our group recently reported serotype-independent protective effects of S. mitis against S. pneumoniae infection in a mouse model.
Goal
Our goal is to develop S. mitis into a novel commensal-based vaccine that will offer a safe, efficacious, low-cost, and broad protection against S. pneumoniae infections.
Objectives
We are currently focusing on (1) to investigate the exact immune mechanisms leading to protection, (2) to study how these compare with the effects provided by current vaccines, (3) to examine whether the recently discovered S. mitis natural isolates that express pneumococcal serotypes will enhance the immunization effect provided by S. mitis, and (4) to extend the study to include a feasibility experiment in humans that will pave the way for future testing in phase 1 trials.
Project Progress
Our group has pioneered studies that propose a universal live commensal vaccine against S. pneumoniae. The vaccine is based on S. mitis, a bacterium closely related to S. pneumoniae. S. mitis expresses a majority of proteins found in S. pneumoniae, thus representing a new vaccine that would have the potential to target all S. pneumoniae. Because S. mitis is a commensal, our approach can circumvent the risks inherent to vaccines that use selected or genetically engineered versions of the causative pathogen.
Project leader
Project leader: Professor Fernanda Petersen, UiO
Project coordinator and supervisor
Project supervisor
Current PhD
Previous PhDs and Postdoctoral fellows
Current Funding
UiO
Previous Funding
Norwegian Research Council
Previous Partners
Professor Karl Schenk, UiO
Professor Daniela Ferreira, Head of m Sciences Department, Professor of respiratory vaccines and infection immunology, LSTM
Previous Clinical Partner
Professor Dag Berild, Department of infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo
