Glycans are attractive vaccine targets for parasitic protozoa and helminths. CD BioGlyco has long been committed to developing new and improved methods for the synthesis of structurally homogeneous carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. We have the confidence to provide our clients with scientific services in the field of vaccine development.

Carbohydrate-based Antihelmintic Vaccine

Parasitic protozoan and helminth infections are major health problems worldwide. Parasitic protozoans are thousands of times smaller than parasitic helminths. Thus, immune cells may be able to bind and recognize protozoa, bacteria, and viruses, but leukocytes are small compared to relatively large helminths, so the interaction mode between helminths and immune cells may be completely different from protozoan parasites. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) will not be able to phagocytose and process large and intact helminths for antigen presentation, therefore researchers generally design vaccines against helminths using glycans as attractive targets.

Antibodies against natural infections have not been established for many parasites; however, there are infections, such as filariasis, malaria and trypanosomiasis, in which antibodies are important for host defense. In addition, immunization with glycoprotein-rich material can induce protective responses. For example, immunization studies with schistosome soluble egg antigens and radiation-attenuated caecilians have shown that protective immune responses are associated with strong glycan-specific antibody responses. Passive immunization with tyvelose-reactive antibodies against a group of antigenic glycoproteins (called Trichinella spiralis larvae group 1, TSL-1) provides protective immunity in rats by expelling invading larvae from the intestine, and this antibody blocks epithelial invasion by the parasite in vitro.

Fig.1 Examples are shown of a parasitic helminth and protozoan, compared to a microbe and a virus. (Nyame, 2004)

Our Services

CD BioGlyco provides clients with one-stop services in the development of carbohydrate-based antihelmintic vaccines, including but not limited to:

• Identification of protective glycan epitopes in mixtures of glycan-rich substances (e.g. radiation attenuated caecilians, soluble egg antigen or TSL-1). We have identified numerous surface glycans associated with Schistosoma spp. (e.g. LacdiNAc, fucosylated LacdiNAc and Lewis X).
• Synthesis of parasitic glycans by chemical or chemoenzymatic combination methods for testing as vaccine candidates.
• Selection of suitable carbohydrate antigens for immune evaluation

Applications

• Developing conjugate vaccines for parasitic infections
• Application in diagnostics
• Prevention of helminthic infections such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis

Advantages of Us

• Experienced experts and advanced platforms
• Years of experience in the field of vaccines development
• Strict quality control
• One-stop service and cost-effective

CD BioGlyco is a world leader in the field of carbohydrate-based vaccine development. With our rich experience and professional platform, we are well-positioned to provide clients with the best development services in the synthesis of carbohydrate-based antihelmintic vaccines. If you are interested in our services, please contact us for more information.

References:

1. Astronomo, R.D.; Burton, D.R. Carbohydrate vaccines: developing sweet solutions to sticky situations?. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2010, 9(4):308-24.
2. Nyame, A.K.; et al. Antigenic glycans in parasitic infections: implications for vaccines and diagnostics. Archives of Biochemistry & Biophysics. 2004, 426(2):182-200.