top of page

Locked EBV Prefusion gB + gH/gL Trimeric  Protein Immunogen

EBV is one of the most common human viruses – a herpes family virus that spreads primarily via saliva. It is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis and is associated with several malignancies, including stomach and nasopharyngeal cancers and Hodgkin and Burkitt lymphomas; EBV infection is also associated with autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis.  An EBV vaccine could prevent or reduce the severity of infectious mononucleosis from EBV infection and may also contribute to the prevention of EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune diseases.

​

There are roughly 125,000 cases of infectious mononucleosis each year in the US, of which approximately 10% develop fatigue that lasts >six months. About 1% of all EBV-infected individuals develop hepatitis, neurologic problems, severe blood abnormalities, or other serious complications.

​

Calder will apply its 3D-Vaxlock™ technology to (i) the EBV gp350, which is a conformational EBV surface protein and the primary target for neutralizing antibodies in people infected with EBV, and (ii) the EBV gB+gH/gL envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimeric complex.  Our goal is to generate improved Epstein-Barr vaccine immunogens that are stabilized in their functionally relevant conformations and elicit potent neutralizing antibody responses.

Vaccine Production Line
Screenshot 2023-02-03 at 2.40.16 PM.png

PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this project is to generate an injectable vaccine product that will trigger immune responses that protect against infection by the Epstein-Barr Virus by taking a novel approach to protein engineering. The product will specifically trigger production of antibodies in vaccinated individuals that will bind to, and neutralize the virus when it enters the body. The goal is to develop a product that triggers production of antibodies that will bind to any Epstein-Barr particle, and therefore protect vaccinated individuals, regardless of the strain of virus they are exposed to.

bottom of page