We’ve come a long way from the pioneering work of Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur and César Milstein. Our ability to travel from one side of the world to the other in mere hours has impacted the spread of infectious diseases in ways these early researchers could never have imagined. Rapidly emerging public health issues continue to challenge new biologic and vaccine researchers to produce better, safer, and more effective products in less time. CHI’s 2nd Annual Biologics & Vaccines for Infectious Disease presents the newest data, latest methods, strategies and technologies to ensure positive clinical results with these time-proven treatments.
Final Agenda
Recommended Short Courses*
SC14: Overcoming the Challenges of Immunogenicity Assays, Risk Assessment and Meeting Regulatory Requirements - Detailed Agenda
SC17: Transient Protein Production in Mammalian Cells - Detailed Agenda
*Separate registration required
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3
7:30 am Registration and Morning Coffee
8:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Elizabeth Lamb, Senior Conference Director, CHI
8:40 Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoproteins: Unusual Antigenic Properties and Unusual Challenges for Vaccine Development
Mansun Law, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Immunology & Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The viral envelope glycoproteins (Env) E1 and E2, the targets of neutralizing antibodies, are currently under investigation as a vaccine candidate. The recently solved partial structures of HCV Env revealed unexpected protein folding and organization of the glycoproteins. How such unusual properties of HCV Env may affect elicitation of cross-neutralizing antibodies in vaccination will be discussed in this presentation.
9:10 Strategies to Improve Expression of Outer Membrane Proteins in Vaccine Research
Lan Zhang, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc.
A safe and efficacious vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis infection remains an unmet medical need. C. trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP), a β-barrel integral outer membrane (OM) protein, is the most abundant antigen in the OM of the bacterium. We targeted the recombinant expression of MOMP to the E. coli OM. The OM expressed and purified recombinant MOMP is immunogenic in mice and elicits antibodies that react to the native antigen, Chlamydia elementary body (EB).
9:40 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Structures of HIV-1 Env V1V2 with Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Reveal Commonalities that Enable Vaccine Design
Jon R. McDaniel, Ph.D., Georgiou Laboratory, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biosciences; Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin
Here we report the cocrystal structure of V1V2 with antibody CH03 from a second donor and model Env interactions of antibody CAP256-VRC26 from a third donor. These V1V2-directed bNAbs used strand-strand interactions between a protruding antibody loop and a V1V2 strand but differed in their N-glycan recognition. Ontogeny analysis indicated that protruding loops develop early, and glycan interactions mature over time. The ontogeny-based design of vaccine antigens described here may provide a general means for eliciting antibodies of a desired class.
10:10 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
10:55 Physicochemical and Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Buccal and Transdermal Measles Vaccine
Rikhav P. Gala, Ph.D. Candidate, Mercer University
The measles vaccine microparticles were made with biocompatible and biodegradable bovine serum albumin (BSA) and processed by spray drying. There was significant induction of innate immune response by vaccine microparticles which was observed in vitro when compared to blank microparticles. The microparticles also significantly increased the antigen presentation and co-stimulatory molecules expression on antigen presenting cells, which is a prerequisite for Th1 and Th2 immune responses. Two dosage forms – oral dissolving films (ODF) for buccal delivery and microneedles (MN) for transdermal delivery of these vaccine microparticles were prepared. The results suggest that the ODF and MN measles vaccine formulation is a viable dosage form alternative to noninvasive immunization.
11:25 Preclinical Evaluation of VIS513, a Therapeutic Antibody Against Dengue Virus in Non-Human Primates
Eugenia Ong, Ph.D., Research Fellow, A-STAR
11:55 Antibody-Based Therapies against New World Arenavirus Hemorrhagic Fevers
Jonathan Abraham, MD, Ph.D., Instructor, Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
The spillover of hemorrhagic fever viruses from their animal reservoirs into human populations continuously threatens public health. While most viral hemorrhagic fevers have limited treatment options, transfusions of immune plasma containing neutralizing antibodies are highly effective in treating hemorrhagic fever caused by the New World arenavirus Junín. This presentation will discuss the role of viral receptor-binding site directed monoclonal antibodies in the neutralization of New World arenaviruses and their potential roles as therapeutics.
12:25 pm Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
12:55 Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:55 Session Break
2:10 Chairperson’s Remarks
Robert F. Garry, Ph.D., Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane Medical School; Co-Founder, Zalgen Labs
2:15 Human Monoclonal Antibodies for Immunotherapy of Ebola and Lassa Fever
Robert F. Garry, Ph.D., Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane Medical School; Co-Founder, Zalgen Labs
Combinations of potent broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from survivors of Lassa fever or Ebola protect in animal models even if treatment is delayed until after clinical signs of these diseases manifest. These results point to the potential utility of human mAbs against hemorrhagic fever viruses as improved immunotherapeutic drugs that can reduce costs of production with lower potential for adverse events than chimeric mouse-human mAbs.
2:45 The Impact of Adjuvants on Antibody Sequence Diversity and Protective Capacity in an Arboviral Disease Vaccine
Neal Van Hoeven, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Infectious Disease Research Institute
Effective vaccine development for emerging and pre-pandemic diseases often requires the use of complex adjuvant formulations. Understanding the impact that these adjuvants have on the development of a complex anti-pathogen polyclonal antibody response is important to both refine and accelerate vaccine development. We have developed methods for analysis of antibody repertoire sequence data, and have applied these to investigate the mechanism by which vaccine adjuvants generate an effective antibody response.
3:15 High-Throughput Discovery of Natural Human Antibodies against Clinically Important Bacterial Pathogens
Ester Falconer, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist. AbCellera
Natural immune repertoires from patients are a potential resource for fully human antibodies against diverse antigens, including “priority” pathogens that threaten global health. AbCellera’s microfluidic platform combines flexible and robust assays with fast, ultra-deep screening of millions of B-cells from patients, to deeply mine natural immune repertoires for lead antibodies.
3:45 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
4:45 Problem-Solving Breakout Discussions
These interactive discussion groups are open to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, & exhibitors. Participants choose a specific breakout discussion group to join. Each group has a moderator to ensure focused discussions around key issues within the topic. This format allows participants to meet potential collaborators, share examples from their work, vet ideas with peers, and be part of a group problem-solving endeavor. The discussions provide an informal exchange of ideas and are not meant to be a corporate or specific product discussion. Pre-registration to sign up for one of the topics will occur a week or two prior to the Event via the App.
Peptide Engineering: Using New Approaches to Solve Old Problems
Moderator: César de la Fuente, Ph.D., Synthetic Biology Group, Biological Engineering, Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Harvard Biophysics Program, Harvard University
- Advantages of peptides over proteins as therapeutics
- Making peptides more effective against infectious disease
Utilizing Patient-Produced Antibodies to Guide Therapeutic Development
Moderator: Robert F. Garry, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Assistant Dean, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Program Manager, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium, Tulane University School of Medicine; Co-Founder, Zalgen Labs, LLC
- Translating from patient to MAb
- Narrowing the possibilities
- Best application
5:45 Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
7:00 End of Day
THURSDAY, MAY 4
8:00 am Morning Coffee
8:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Galit Alter, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Medicine; Kristine & Bob Higgins MGH Research Scholar; Director, Ragon Institute Imaging Core; Director, Harvard Center for Aids Research Immunology Core
8:35 Natural Infection-Inspired Monoclonal Antibody Design
Galit Alter, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Medicine; Kristine & Bob Higgins MGH Research Scholar; Director, Ragon Institute Imaging Core; Director, Harvard Center for Aids Research Immunology Core
The presentation will discuss new methods that utilize natural infection-inspired antibody design, as well as our current outcomes using this technique.
9:05 Exploiting Large Sized Cow Antibodies for Developing Novel Therapeutics and Vaccines
Azad Kaushik, DVM, D.Sc., Associate Professor, College of Biological Science, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph
Our laboratory discovered that bovine antibodies are the largest known to exist in a species because of an exceptionally long CDR3H (~61 amino acids). These ‘Megabodies’ offer an opportunity to develop new therapeutics and vaccines. An evidence for structural optimization of bovine scFvs to enhance viral neutralization potency will be presented. In addition, a ‘proof of concept’ for developing novel vaccines, via antigenization of bovine scFv with an exceptionally long CDR3H, will be presented.
9:35 Please enjoy a concurrent session presentation
10:05 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
11:05 Human Monoclonal Antibodies for Viral Diseases
James E. Crowe, Jr., M.D., Professor, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, Vanderbilt University
Viral pathogens already cause a significant proportion of human diseases, and emerging pathogens now regularly cause major unexpected outbreaks. Human monoclonal antibodies increasingly hold promise as the most rapid mode of therapy that can be developed and deployed for such outbreaks. We will review general principles of molecular recognition of viral pathogens by human antibodies, and illustrate these concepts with specific examples of therapeutic antibodies derived from the B cells of survivors of virus infections.
11:35 Human Antibody Cocktails for Universal Immunotherapy against Ebolaviruses
Anna Z. Wec, Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein School of Medicine
Three ebolaviruses cause outbreaks of a lethal viral disease for which no approved treatments are available. Current-generation immunotherapeutics like the ZMappTM mAb cocktail show promise, but suffer from lack of breadth, targeting only one of five known ebolaviruses. Here, we describe pan-neutralizing mAbs isolated from a human survivor of the 2014–16 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and evaluate cocktails derived from them as immunotherapeutics potentially capable of combating outbreaks caused by any known ebolavirus.
12:05 pm Bioinspired Peptide Engineering to Combat Infectious Diseases
Cesar de la Fuente, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate, Biological Engineering, MIT/Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Antibiotic resistance will kill 10 million people annually by 2050, costing the global economy $100 trillion. I will discuss our ongoing work engineering peptide therapeutics to counter biofilms and other difficult-to-treat infections.
12:35 End of Biologics and Vaccines for Infectious Diseases