SBIR-STTR Award

An existing problem being faced in the development of new vaccines is the need for targeting bacterial infections that occur at mucosal sites such as the upper airway and the gastrointestinal tract Overcoming this problem will require the use of novel vaccine formulations and in particular the use of novel immune enhancing agents adjuvants that promote immune responses that are effective at mucosal sites In this study we will explore the additive and potentially synergistic activities of two potential adjuvants for their ability to specifically induce a balanced immune response to a novel subunit vaccine designed to prevent infection by an enteric pathogen The ability of the novel adjuvant to promote delivery of protein antigens to antigen presenting cells is expected to promote a robust balanced immune response that is effective against this and other pathogens that infect at mucosal sites