Collaboration Aims to Develop Tools for High-Consequence Pathogens
ProImmune, Ltd. and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) have entered into a collaboration agreement. The stated goal is to develop molecular tools for the study of high-consequence emerging and endemic infectious diseases.
Agreement and Research Scope
The agreement will see ProImmune's proprietary Ankyron® technology evaluated for its utility in detecting, localizing, and functionally interrogating viral proteins. The research will be conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Courtney Woolsey at the Galveston National Laboratory.
The work will be performed under Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) maximum-containment conditions, which are required for research on the most dangerous pathogens.
Research Focus and Initial Targets
The collaboration aims to combine ProImmune's Ankyron technology with GNL's expertise in the immunopathology of emerging viruses. The research is intended to investigate:
- Viral protein function
- Immune dysregulation
- Tissue-specific host responses
According to the announcement, the findings are expected to inform the development of future vaccines and therapeutics.
Initial validation efforts will focus on Ankyrons specific for viral proteins from the following pathogens:
- Bundibugyo virus
- Zaire ebolavirus
- Sudan ebolavirus
- Reston ebolavirus
- Human Enterovirus 71
- Mpox virus
Background on Ankyron Technology
Ankyrons are described as a class of small, single-domain binding reagents based on an engineered ankyrin-repeat scaffold. Key characteristics cited in the announcement include:
- A molecular weight of approximately 15 kilodaltons.
- Generation through a fully in vitro, high-throughput selection process that does not require animal immunization.
- Availability for 60 pathogens and disease vectors, with the capability for rapid development against new targets.
Facility Information
The UTMB Galveston National Laboratory is a high-containment infectious disease research facility with BSL-4 capabilities, specializing in research on emerging viral pathogens.