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Assessing the tolerability and versatility of the new Spytag003/Spycatcher003 as a novel bio-conjugation system for displaying protein antigens on the surface of bacteriophage VLPs

Award Number: R15AI197231
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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Assessing the tolerability and versatility of the new Spytag003/Spycatcher003 as a novel bio-conjugation system for displaying protein antigens on the surface of bacteriophage VLPs - PROJECT SUMMARY Peptide and protein antigen vaccines are very safe compared to live-attenuated vaccines. They can be used to immunize anyone and are not associated with a lot of side effects compared to live-attenuated vaccines. However, peptides and proteins are less immunogenic compared to live-attenuated vaccines. To overcome these limitations, peptide antigens have been inserted/displayed on the surface of virus-like particles (VLPs) to increase their size as well as the valency or density of the peptide. VLPs are morphologically and structurally similar to viruses from which the coat proteins are derived from, except for the fact that they lack the viral genome. VLPs are highly immunogenic even at small doses of antigens. Most peptide antigens can be displayed on VLPs by genetic insertion or by chemical conjugation (to make them multivalent and highly immunogenic). However, these two approaches cannot be used for every peptide not to mention protein antigens. The size of an antigen as well as the composition of the antigen most of the time interferes with these two conjugation approaches. These limitations make in very impossible to use identified antigens with neutralizing and protective epitopes in vaccine design. To overcome the limitations with genetic and chemical conjugation approaches, we propose to explore a novel bio-conjugation approach on 4 bacteriophage VLPs (MS2, PP7, AP205, Q). This approach will use the new Spytag003/Spycatcher003 bio-conjugation system developed from the prototype Spytag/Spycatcher. In the proposed study, we will assess the potential of using the new Spytag003/Spycatcher003 bio-conjugation system to display diverse protein antigens on the surface of 4 bacteriophage VLPs. We will assess the versatility of the new bio-conjugation system on these VLPs using diverse protein antigens that differ in origin, size, and conformation.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $587,528 )
2026	2026	TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM	2500 BROADWAY	LUBBOCK	TX	79409	LUBBOCK	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/30/2026	NEW	$587,528
														Subtotal = $587,528

Grand Total All Awards = $587,528

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Assessing the tolerability and versatility of the new Spytag003/Spycatcher003 as a novel bio-conjugation system for displaying protein antigens on the surface of bacteriophage VLPs

Award Number: R15AI197231

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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