In February 2024 Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) announced that it is awarding GlyProVac $467,000 in support of efforts to develop a maternal vaccine targeting Escherichia coli (E. Coli), which is the bacterial species responsible for a “large portion” of neonatal sepsis infections. GlyProVac is a spin-out of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense that seeks to reduce the burden of bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
Neonatal sepsis
Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening response to bloodstream infections that occurs in newborns younger than 28 days old. Their immature immune systems mean they are “particularly susceptible” to infections. A recent study estimated that 2.5 million neonates or infants in the first month of lie die each year from sepsis; the greatest burden is suffered in low- and middle-income countries. With rapid disease progression, neonatal sepsis requires immediate treatment.
GPV02
The award will contribute to the development of GlyProVac’s maternal vaccine GPV02. GPV02 uses a selected bacterial protein, “naturally decorated” with small sugar molecules, to trigger an immune response. This contrasts to previous attempts to generate protein-based bacterial vaccines. GlyProVac uses BEMAP technology to ensure that the vaccine “correctly imitates” E. coli to prepare the immune system to recognise the bacterium when infection occurs.
The BEMAP technology is a “powerful sample enrichment method” based on mass spectrometry that allows comprehensive identification of any type of O-linked protein glycosylation. Through the technology the team has discovered that bacterial O-linked glycosylation is “much more extensive than previously thought and is especially important to Enterotoxigenic E. coli.
Dr Erin Duffy, CARB-X’s R&D Chief, commented that GlyProVac’s maternal vaccine could be important to prevent neonatal sepsis, the “leading cause of death among infants”.
“Because newborns at risk for neonatal sepsis are too young to be immunised, the vaccine would be administered to expectant mothers and target bacteria that cause neonatal bloodstream infections in babies. The vaccinated mothers would pass antibodies on to their babies in utero and through breastmilk after birth to strengthen their newborns’ immune systems, helping them ward off infections.”
Dr Anders Boysen, CEO and Co-founder of GlyProVac and Co-inventor of BEMAP is pleased that the award enables the “strengthening” of the team’s “scientific approach, strong team, and commitment to tackle the AMR crisis”.
“E. coli can cause a range of infections in humans, including urinary tract infections and neonatal sepsis in newborns, and poses a major challenge for public healthcare systems. We are grateful for the invaluable support, network, and resources provided by CARB-X, which will give us the opportunity to expand the potential of our E. coli vaccine to accelerate the fight against neonatal sepsis.”
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