MicroCubes as Vaccines for the Developing World

Fasséli Coulibaly of Monash University in Australia will design a vaccine platform based on protein crystals (MicroCubes) produced by insect viruses to produce new and more potent vaccines with increased stability, obviating the need for refrigerated storage. The crystal structure will be engineered to present multiple antigens that will then be tested for their ability to induce an effective immune response. In Phase I, a proof-of-concept study was performed to establish MicroCubes as a promising vaccine platform, focusing on production versatility, potential vaccine delivery routes, and efficacy for inducing an immune response in mice. In Phase II, they will investigate the broader potential of MicroCubes as a generic vaccine platform that can be used to deliver a wide range of antigens, and will use it to develop a candidate vaccine against HIV.