Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook Instagram Threads
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Subscribe
    • Featured News
    • Funding
    • Directory
    • Jobs
    • Events
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Medical Countermeasures

    DTRA Works to Create Freeze-Dried Portable Biomanufacturing for Nimble Response to Emerging Biothreats

    By Global Biodefense StaffSeptember 30, 2021
    Advancements in biomanufacturing are bringing on-demand, shelf-stable vaccines to the front lines. Courtesy: DTRA CBD
    Share
    Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email

    Advancements in biomanufacturing are bringing on-demand, shelf-stable vaccines to the front lines.

    By the year 2050, it is estimated that up to 10 million people will be threatened by drug-resistant bacteria. Thanks to recent research investments by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), there is an innovative way of creating vaccines quickly with no need for refrigeration—iVAX, short for in vitro conjugate vaccine expression—solves the issues surrounding traditional conjugate vaccines.

    A conjugate vaccine contains a specific part of the bacteria or virus that trains the immune system to provide protection, which is attached—or conjugated—to a carrier component, and this ensures the vaccine is stable in the body and properly transported. Although conjugate vaccines are one type of vaccine shown to be effective and safe for preventing life-threatening infections such as meningitis and pneumonia, they come with manufacturing and distribution challenges:

    • Conjugate vaccines are difficult and expensive to make. They require large-scale, costly manufacturing facilities that include biosafety measures.
    • The conjugating step can change the architecture of the necessary bacterial component, which makes the conjugated vaccine considerably less effective.
    • The entire process from manufacturing to distribution requires refrigeration.

    Collaborative groups led by Dr. Michael Jewett of Cornell University and Matthew DeLisa of Northwestern University have developed a cell-free protein synthesis system for vaccine production. This portable technology uses freeze-dried materials that can be activated at the point of care with simple rehydration, which is a significant bio-manufacturing technology advancement as it increases the speed for producing vaccines and eliminates the need for refrigeration.

    This innovative research in developing cell-free protein synthesis systems will shorten vaccine production timelines in some cases to as little as one hour. DTRA plans to invest further with these collaborative groups to advance cell-free protein synthesis capabilities using artificial intelligence and machine learning to design proteins capable of binding multiple targets onto disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which would significantly increase the immune system’s ability to expel them.

    The investment is under the portfolio of DTRA’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department in its role as Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) for Chemical and Biological Defense.

    Read more:

    On-demand biomanufacturing of protective conjugate vaccines. Science Advances, 3 February 2021.

    Abstract: Conjugate vaccines are among the most effective methods for preventing bacterial infections. However, existing manufacturing approaches limit access to conjugate vaccines due to centralized production and cold chain distribution requirements. To address these limitations, we developed a modular technology for in vitro conjugate vaccine expression (iVAX) in portable, freeze-dried lysates from detoxified, nonpathogenic Escherichia coli. Upon rehydration, iVAX reactions synthesize clinically relevant doses of conjugate vaccines against diverse bacterial pathogens in 1 hour. We show that iVAX-synthesized vaccines against Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A) strain Schu S4 protected mice from lethal intranasal F. tularensis challenge. The iVAX platform promises to accelerate development of new conjugate vaccines with increased access through refrigeration-independent distribution and portable production.

    Source: Adapted from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department

    Biotechnology Defense Threat Reduction Agency Disease X Drug Delivery Systems Editor Pick Innovation Thermostability Vaccine News
    Share. Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleLeidos Awarded DARPA Contract for Personalized Protective Biosystem Against Chemical and Biological Threats
    Next Article Biothreat Detection Module Will Help Assess Capacity to Detect Agro-Terrorism

    Related Stories

    EPA Developing AMR Risk Framework for Antibacterial and Antifungal Pesticides

    September 29, 2023

    Provide Feedback on Federal DURC Biosafety Oversight of Potential Pandemic Pathogens

    September 24, 2023

    Committee to Examine Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease

    September 24, 2023

    New Method Improves Quantification of Ricin in Complex Matrices

    September 20, 2023
    News Scan

    Biodefense Headlines – 19 September 2023

    News Scan September 19, 2023

    News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense This week’s selections include a global survey of gain-of-function research; funding of an mRNA mpox vaccine; Nipah virus outbreak in India; field detection of threat agents with acoustic…

    Upcoming Events

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    October 3 - October 5

    OneLab Summit 2023

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships to Distribute, Dispense, and Administer Medical Countermeasures

    Oct 4
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT

    Tunneling Nanotubes and Intracellular Protrusions Workshop

    Oct 12
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships for Acceptance and Uptake of Medical Countermeasures

    View Calendar

    Subscribe to Global Biodefense

    Get the latest news on pathogens and preparedness

    © 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Subscribe

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are okay with it.OkPrivacy policy