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INV-1151
Background
The immune system (IS) has a delicate equilibrium between its cells. The most important cells of the IS are the B lymphocytes (BL), macrophages (MO), and dendritic cells (DC), so-called antigen presenting cells (APC). They are the key-linkers between the innate and the adaptive immunity, which is a crucial factor that will lead to a response or anergy towards the antigen.
Dendritic cells are known as the most important antigen presenting cells (APC) since they are the only known cells able to prime naive T lymphocytes (TL), triggering and directing the immune response.
To modulate the immune response many options have been developed: different types of vaccines and immune therapies with drugs or pre‑treated immune cells.
Technology Overview
This invention provides a method to regulate the immune system by manipulating DC upon specific targeting nano-vehicles containing different cargoes such as DNA, tRNA, siRNA, viral particles, proteins, peptides, hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs.
By transfecting DC or delivering antigen directly to DC cytoplasm it would be possible to process the de novo synthesized or uptake proteins as an endogenous antigen, and the resulting peptides presented under the MHC I context, priming CD8 T lymphocytes and generating specific cytotoxic immune responses.
These responses are desirable against some intracellular pathogens such as certain viruses and cancers. To target DCs the Manα1‑2Man‑L tool is formulated.
Benefits
- Higher scalability
- Highly cost effective
- High percentage of specific binding
- Effective regulation of the immune system
Applications
- Manipulation of the immune response
- Treatment of various disorders such as HIV, HBV, HCV
Opportunity
- License
- Partnering
- Research Collaboration
