Project title: Development of a vaccine prototype for the treatment and prevention of periodontitis as a proof-of-concept study

Project No.: lzp-2023/1-0070

Period: 1st January 2024 – 31 December 2026

Project costs: 300 000,00 EUR

Principal Investigator: Dr. biol. Ina Baļķe

Project summary:

Periodontal diseases (PDD) are one of the most common diseases, affecting up to 90% of adults during their life, but 11% develop severe-type periodontitis (PD). P.gingivalis (Pg) is proposed as a major etiologic agent and keystone pathogen of PD. PD is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer, Parkinson’s disease, and certain cancers. Peptidylarginine deiminase (PPAD) is a critical virulence factor of Pg – an enzyme that citrullinates Pg proteins, changing conformation and function and ensuring maturation. PPAD also citrunillate host proteins – identified in inflammatory arthritis, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, psoriasis, myositis, and sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Immunization against Pg various antigens had demonstrated the production of specific antibodies (Abs), reduction of bone mass loss, and any recognizable side effects. The main goal of this project is to develop a prototype PPAD-targeted therapeutic vaccine for therapy and prevention of Pg-caused PD and its caused systemic conditions. To achieve the set goal – a vaccine prototype will be created, based on plant VLPs, containing PPAD on the surface as a target antigen for neutralizing Ab development. Vaccine immunogenicity test will be done in mice by determining Ab titers, classes, avidity by ELISA, testing in cell cultures, and WB. The efficacy of the prototype will be tested in a mouse disease model, monitoring disease progression.

Information published 02.01.2024.