Wednesday, August 22 - Day One
Research: Meeting Medical Needs

7:30 am Registration and Morning Coffee

Overcoming Challenges

9:35 Implementation of the Modified Vaccination Technique for Prophylactic and Therapeutic Applications for Chronic Disorders
Arpad Z. Barabas, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Surgery, University of Calgary
We have discovered a new vaccination technique that is able to specifically redirect the immune response both prophylactically and therapeutically of the vaccinated host following injections of immune enhancing components and evoke desired outcomes such as: (a) prevention and/or termination of an experimental autoimmune disease called Heymann nephritis, and (b) powerful immune response against an exogenous antigen. The new vaccination technique - which needs no adjuvants - initiates and maintains a predetermined specific and heightened immune response against a target antigen so far proved to be effective against all the antigens we have used. It appears to us that implementation of our modified vaccination technique will allow prevention and treatment/termination of many chronic ailments that the medical profession cannot presently control using drugs.

10:05 Networking Coffee Break, Poster and Exhibit Viewing

Developing Solutions to Threats

11:15 A Novel Immunogenic Spore Coat-Associated Protein in Bacillus Anthracis: Characterization via Proteomics Approaches and a Vector-Based Vaccine System
Chun-Ming "Eric" Huang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
New generation anthrax vaccines have been actively explored with the aim of enhancing efficacies and decreasing undesirable side effects that could be caused by licensed vaccines. Targeting novel antigens and/or eliminating the requirements for multiple needle injections and adjuvants are major objectives in the development of new anthrax vaccines. Using proteomics approaches, we identified a spore coat-associated protein (SCAP) in Bacillus anthracis. An E. coli vector- based vaccine system was used to determine the immunogenicity of SCAP. Mice generated detectable SCAP antibodies three weeks after intranasal immunization with an intact particle of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated E. coli vector overproducing SCAP. The production of SCAP antibodies was detected via western blotting and SCAP-spotted antigen-arrays. The adjuvant effect of a UV-irradiated E. coli vector eliminates the necessity of boosting and the use of other immunomodulators which will foster the screening and manufacturing of new generation anthrax vaccines. More importantly, the immunogenic SCAP may potentially be a new candidate for the development of anthrax vaccines.

11:45 A Novel Vaccine Concept for Induction of Immune Responses in Tolerized Animals
Hildegund C.J. Ertl, M.D., Leader, Immunology Program, The Wistar Institute

12:15pm Lunch on Your Own

Achieving Vaccine Breakthroughs –
Adjuvants & Self-Adjuvanting

1:40 Chairperson's Remarks

1:45 Use of CEL-1000 as a Vaccine Adjuvant for Enhancing Immune Responses and for Dose Sparing Benefits
Daniel Zimmerman, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research, Cellular Immunology, CEL-SCI Corporation

2:15 Enhancing Vaccine Efficacy with Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotide Formulations
Debbie Higgins, Senior Manager, Preclinical Programs, Dynavax Technologies Corporation, Berkeley, California USA.
Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides containing CpG motifs (ISS) can serve as potent adjuvants to enhance vaccine immunogenicity and allow dose sparing. ISS can be mixed with viral or bacterial antigens, covalently linked to antigens or incorporated into advanced, particulate delivery vehicles that can significantly enhance ISS activity. Vaccine programs using these approaches will be discussed. ISS mixed with hepatitis B surface antigen (HEPLISAV) induces antibody responses that are faster, higher, and longer lasting in both normal and older adult populations compared to immunization with licensed hepatitis B vaccines. ISS-linked ragweed allergen Amb a 1 (TOLAMBA) reduces Th2 responses, induces Th1 responses and provides potent long lasting efficacy against allergic rhinitis. ISS linked to conserved influenza antigens induces strong, cross-reactive T celland antibody responses that could be important in protection against divergent, potentially pandemic influenza virus strains. With anthrax rPA vaccine, particulate delivery formulations dramatically enhance both immunogenicity and protective efficacy in animal models. In addition, this formulation can be lyophilized, which may provide a stability and storage advantage for stockpiled vaccines.

2:30 Technology Trends (Sponsorship Available)

2:45 Delivery of Vaccines as Crosslinked Protein Crystals
Bhami Shenoy, Ph.D., Director of Biomedical Research, Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Subunit vaccines that consist of well characterized molecules are extremely attractive due to their superior safety profile and ease of manufacturing via chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA technology. However, the subunit vaccines have poor immunogenicity and in many cases cannot compete with their wholecell counterparts. Thus, the formulation of antigens with adjuvants, compounds that augment the immune responses, is necessary. Unfortunately, the adjuvants currently approved for human use, are either too weak or toxic. Another challenge to successful subunit vaccine design and development comes from the poor stability of antigens and adjuvants. Aqueous, single vial vaccines, that are ready to use and can be stable under storage without refrigeration, are highly desirable, but are difficult to formulate due to the physical and chemical instability of the proteins. One of the ways to solve many problems related to the immunogenicity and stability of subunit vaccines is by using Cross-Linked Protein Crystals (CLPC) as antigens. Indeed, several major features of protein crystals make them highly attractive for vaccine formulations such as: protein crystals can be produced in a variety of sizes, shapes and forms and are uniquely suited to investigate the effect of the physical nature of the immunogen on the immune response; protein crystals are ultimately biodegradable and the adverse side effects, associated with non-degradable synthetic polymers, can be minimized; and they have self-adjuvanting effect.

3:15 Networking Refreshment Break, Poster & Exhibit Viewing

5:30-7:00 Networking Reception, Poster & Exhibit Viewing

7:00 pm End of Day One