Majela Gonzalez Miro

Citation

Thesis Title
Polyhydroxyalkanoate beads as a particulate vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are major causes of pneumonia and meningitis, respectively, worldwide. The available commercial vaccines to prevent these diseases are safe and protective; however, they have limitations such as serotype-dependent immunity and low immunogenicity of the proteins, requiring adjuvants or delivery systems to enhance the desired immune response. In addition, complex production procedures are required, increasing costs and therefore market prices making these vaccines inaccessible for many affected people. Ms Gonzalez Miro researched polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) beads as a carrier and delivery system engineered to display bacterial antigens. She demonstrated that a strong and protective humoral and cellular immune response was elicited after vaccination of mice. Overall, her research showed that PHB beads, an innovative particulate vaccine candidate, hold the promise of a broadly protective vaccine that can be produced cost-effectively to prevent diseases caused by these two bacterial pathogens.

Supervisors
Professor Bernd Rehm
Dr Vicente Verez Bencomo
Dr Zoe Jordens