Application of a novel virus-like particle platform to the development of Neisseria vaccines

Development of vaccines against meningococcal meningitis has been driven by the identification of protective protein antigens. In the case of gonorrhoea, this has been less successful, although there is evidence that a vaccine against the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis, Neisseria meningitidis, elicits some protection against infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhoea. Here we describe an approach that uses antigen fusion to antibody Fc domains and attachment to an engineered virus-like particle (VLP) platform to display multiple Neisseria antigens. Any combination of antigens which are fused to an antibody Fc domain can be attached to the VLP, a technology we have termed ‘AbBind’. We exemplify this invention with seven antigens which are vaccine candidates for protection against meningococcal or gonococcal infection. Antigens are expressed as Fc fusions in HEK cells, purified using Protein A and then added to the AbBind VLP core. Five antigens induce potent IgG antibody responses in mice, as fusions to Fc and/or in complex with the VLP core. This highly adaptable platform integrates well with mammalian expression pipelines which are commonly used for antibody production and is therefore readily scalable. The results raise the prospect of jointly formulated vaccines to elicit protection against both diseases.