Ancestral scaffold antigens as a resilient technology for fast response to viruses and pandemics
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan - Skolan f kemi bioteknologi & hälsa Inst f fiber- & polymerteknologi |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 000 000 |
| Project duration | July 2024 - June 2025 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Emerging technology solutions |
| Call | Emerging technology solutions within quantum technology and synthetic biology 2024 |
Important results from the project
The project resulted in a bioinformatic method for designing proteins with higher stability and activity from using only sequence space. We applied the method to viral antigens and enzymes and demonstrated that they had higher activity and stability both in vitro and in organoid models. In this way, the generality of the project´s method was demonstrated and all goals achieved. A spin-off company was formed based on the project’s IP protected method.
Expected long term effects
The impact on society could be significant by enabling rapid design of robust enzymes, protein-based drugs and antigens from large amounts of available sequence data without the need for a structure. In addition to providing increased resilience against, for example, future pandemics, the project´s method is expected to penetrate the chemical and pharmaceutical industries by enabling more efficient and cheaper production processes in the form of higher yields and activity of the target protein.
Approach and implementation
The project was carried out in close collaboration between the two project partners who together provided the necessary expertise in bioinformatics (KTH), biochemistry (KI/KTH) and immunology (KI) to enable the delivery of the project´s goals. KTH performed sequence-based protein design to generate antigens delivered to KI who performed ELISA and surrogate virus neutralization assays. A human tonsil organoid model was developed to mimic immunization and evaluate potency of designer proteins.