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One vaccine, two targets

FCF-Unicamp researchers develop a prototype with the capacity to immunize against meningococcal meningitis and the Zika Virus

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Researchers from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF) at Unicamp have developed the prototype of a vaccine capable of immunizing against two diseases: meningococcal meningitis and Zika Virus. The tests, initially carried out vitro and later in an animal model, they obtained highly positive results, giving rise to a patent application. The study resulted in an article published in Scientific Reports, an important magazine that belongs to the Group Nature.

The research was conducted by then FCF undergraduate student, Paula Martins, under the guidance of professor Marcelo Lancellotti. The work also included the collaboration of other researchers from Unicamp, more specifically from the Institute of Biology (IB), Institute of Chemistry (IQ) and two other laboratories at FCF itself. “The Zika Unicamp Network was fundamental for us to carry out this project, as it was through it that we had the opportunity to start partnerships with colleagues from other areas”, explains Lancellotti.

According to the professor, studies with these characteristics require a multidisciplinary approach, as they involve problems of different orders. “One area of ​​knowledge would not be able, alone, to find answers to all our doubts”, he states. A curious fact about the research concerns how the idea of ​​the method that would be used in the development of the vaccine prototype came about. Lancellotti says he was at home, washing dishes, when he observed two soap bubbles coming together.

Photo: Perri
Professor Marcelo Lancellotti, research advisor: the idea for the methodology used in the study came while the professor was washing dishes

At that time, the professor considered that something similar could be tried in relation to the meningococcus that causes meningitis and the Zika Virus, given that both have similar chemical structures. “The meningococcus produces a series of extremely small vesicles, known by the acronym OMV, which are similar to what we know as liposomes. In other words, they are similar to our cell membranes. The Zika Virus also has a membrane made up of host cells, with host proteins on the surface. My idea was to combine the two structures, to see what could happen”, says Lancellotti.

The technique chosen to promote this junction was shear, which consists of agitation [increased kinetic energy] as a way of promoting the adjunct of the two structures. “We were successful, but we didn’t know what the result of this process would be. It was something totally innovative. After some time, when we analyzed the fusion, we found that the structures, now fused, increased in size. Something was happening, although we didn't have an exact idea of ​​what it was”, admits the FCF professor.

The next step was to use the structure obtained with the fusion to immunize mice. “What we saw was that the animals developed antibodies against the bacteria's original OMV, as well as against the Zika Virus. It is worth noting that we only observed the immunological response. We did not verify the response against diseases, since mice do not become infected with Zika or meningitis. In any case, we found that this immunological response was not only high against both pathogens, but also did not cause any compromise to the recombinant DNA”, explains Paula Martins.

Photo: Perri
Samples of the vaccine developed at FCF

In the technique that uses recombinant DNA, she continues, the Zika Virus gene is removed and then introduced into a bacterium. It turns out that this process is quite laborious, costly and time-consuming, especially when it comes to scheduling production. This happens because Brazilian and international standards impose logistical difficulties on the method. “The methodology we developed is simpler and cheaper. Now, we need to move forward with the research. The next stage will correspond to scaling tests, to find out if we will be able to produce the vaccine on an industrial scale. We also need to better understand the operating mechanism, which is already being done in work conducted by postgraduate students”, informs the researcher.

Professor Lancellotti also notes that the prototype developed at FCF, unlike other vaccines, does not use embryonic eggs in its preparation. The method is completely cellular. “This avoids problems with allergies and side effects and obviously makes the process cheaper. Our vaccine uses the killed/attenuated virus. We have not yet been able to completely separate the viral particle during the fusion process, but we believe that we will achieve this goal by improving the technique. It is necessary to remember that the vaccine is still far from being able to be used by the population, but the prototype has shown itself to be very promising”, considers the professor.

Another aspect highlighted by Lancellotti refers to Unicamp's tradition of associating teaching with research as a strategy to provide more solid training to its students. “This is very important, and Paula’s work demonstrates the correctness of this model. By putting the student in contact with the scientific method early, we further qualify their preparation. In the specific case of my laboratory, this training is directly associated with the application. We do not want our studies to remain only in the academic sphere. Our purpose is to ensure that knowledge generates products and processes that bring benefits to society”, defines the professor.

Paula Martins agrees with Lancellotti and states that early contact with research, through the Scientific Initiation program, really made a difference in her training. “I went to the laboratory before even attending Lancellotti’s classes. Today, working in the industry, I see that many of my colleagues did not have the same experience as I did. Soon, I intend to return to Unicamp and continue my postgraduate studies. I think that the important thing is not just to do something, but to understand the path taken to do it. This is very important and rewarding.”

 

 

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