Study of the cellular and humoral immunological response of mice immunized with Alum and Poly-ICLC adjuvants associated with an RBD vaccine

• Grant number: 23/02096-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira
• Grantee: Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira
• Visiting researcher: Cristiane Moutinho Lagos de Melo
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Centro de Ciências Biológicas (CCB), Brazil
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Vaccines, as public health strategies, are the best method for the long-term prevention (and/or treatment) of infectious diseases, since they play a key role in strengthening the immune response of each individual, reducing the spread of the pathogen. and limiting the possible outbreak (endemic, epidemic or pandemic) that it may cause. The use of adjuvants in the manufacture of vaccines becomes essential since, depending on the process of inactivation and purification of the vaccine antigen, there is a decrease in the immunogenic potential of the pathogen (compared to its live and unmodified presentation) and, subsequently, there may be a lower immune induction. This proposal aims to investigate the immunological action of two adjuvants of different chemical natures, Alumâ, composed of different aluminum salts, and polyribocytidic acid - Poly-ICLCâ, a derivative of a synthetic double-stranded RNA complex, associated or not. with an RBD domain subunit vaccine (from the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2). Immunization will be performed in C57BL/6 mice with different immunological status. The study, which is unprecedented in principle, aims to provide scientific support for the rational and targeted use of adjuvants in experimental vaccines, as well as deepening the immunogenicity studies of the experimental vaccine. In addition, it aims to strengthen the UFPE-USP partnership, through the exchange of experimental methodologies, team training, training of human resources and inter-institutional exchange. (AU)