Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is among the neglected tropical diseases that remain common in the tropical and sub tropical regions affecting millions. Our company is at the forefront of LF vaccine and therapeutic development, offering a comprehensive suite of services designed to accelerate the discovery and delivery of novel solutions.
Overview of Lymphatic Filariasis
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an incapacitating tropical disease caused by parasite infections of filarial worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. The spread of LF is facilitated by larva-infested mosquitoes that transfer the parasite to new hosts during blood meals. Elephantiasis, lymphedema, maternity hydroceles, and other greatly disabling and debilitating symptoms all contribute to LF and the terrible socio-economical troubles it brings to fossilized communities. By the statistics from WHO report, LF affects over 120 million people globally, while a significant part of the population, especially in tropical and subtropical areas, remains at risk.
Fig.1 Protective immune response in humans against lymphatic filariasis. (Kalyanasundaram R., et al., 2020)
Vaccine Development for Lymphatic Filariasis
The creation of vaccines for lymphatic filariasis has become a focus of concern to control the disease towards an effective elimination strategy. Control measures have predominantly relied on mass drug administration (MDA) of antifilarial drugs, and while essential, these methods are not sufficient in eradicating the adult worm population or providing prolonged vaccination immunity. This indicates the vaccine development needs to target the disease from other angles as well.
Table 1. Summary of the most successful recombinant protein vaccines for LF reported in the last 10 years. (Kalyanasundaram R., et al., 2020)
| Vaccine candidates |
Percent Protection |
Animal model used |
| Monovalent vaccine |
| TGA |
30% |
Jirds |
| TPX |
43% |
Jirds |
| GST |
61% |
Jirds |
| HSP12.6 |
58% |
Mice |
| TSP |
60% |
Mice |
| TPP |
71% |
Mastomys coucha |
| DIM-1 |
50% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Troponin 1 |
65% |
Mice |
| Heavy chain myosin |
84% |
Mice |
| ALT-2 with Tuftsin |
65% |
Mice |
| FAR binding proteins |
68% |
Jirds |
| Calponin |
42% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Cocktail vaccine |
| TGA+TPX |
74% |
Jirds |
| ALT-2+TPX |
80% |
Mice |
| TRX+TPX |
71% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Myosin+ TPP |
70% |
Jirds |
| iPGM + TPP |
70% |
Jirds |
| VAL-1+ALT-2 |
77-80% |
Jirds |
| Bivalent vaccine |
| HSP12.6+ALT-2 |
90% |
Mice |
| HSP12.6+TSP |
80% |
Mice |
| TSP+ALT-2 |
82% |
Mice |
| Bm-103, Bm-RAL-2 |
61% |
Jirds |
| Multivalent vaccine |
| Multi antigen peptide (MAP) |
63% |
Jirds |
| Multiepitope |
75% |
Mastomys coucha |
| HAT |
94% |
Mice |
| Chimeric multistage filarial epitope protein (FEP) |
70% |
Jirds |
| HAT |
45% |
Rhesus macaque |
| HAXT |
88% |
Mice |
| HAXT |
57% |
Rhesus macaque |
Therapeutics Development for Lymphatic Filariasis
The major focus of managing lymphatic filariasis is based on the use of antifilarial drugs, focusing on combinations which would be effective but would minimize any resistance.
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole: this combination of two medications has been in use as the prescription for mass drug administration in regions which are not co-endemic with onchocerciasis. DEC aims to destroy adult worms as well as microfilariae while albendazole helps in reducing the microfilarial load.
Ivermectin and Albendazole: this combination has come into practice in locations endemic for onchocerciasis. Ivermectin is very effective in eliminating microfilariae and is critical in limiting transmission.
Triple Drug Regimen: Recent evidence from Papua New Guinea clinical trials point out a three-drug regime consisting of ivermectin, DEC, and albendazole is much more effective in clearing microfilaremia than traditional combinations containing only two drugs. This regimen achieved a clearance rate of 96% at 36 months, showcasing its potential superiority.
Our Services
Advanced techniques in immunology aid us in discovering and characterizing new vaccine candidates through antigen discovery, formulation, development, and preclinical evaluation. At the same time, our therapeutics development team applies themselves to improving existing drug therapies as well as searching for new ones. We ensure the highest standards by systematically testing the safety and efficacy of our drug combinations.
- Wuchereria bancrofti Infection Animal Models
- Brugia malayi Infection Animal Models
- Brugia timori Infection Animal Models
- Customized Animal Model Development
Our preclinical research services are designed to provide a robust foundation for the development of lymphatic filariasis vaccines and therapeutics. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Kalyanasundaram Ramaswamy, Vishal Khatri, and Nikhil Chauhan. "Advances in vaccine development for human lymphatic filariasis." Trends in parasitology 36.2 (2020): 195-205.
- King, Christopher L., et al. "A trial of a triple-drug treatment for lymphatic filariasis." New England Journal of Medicine 379.19 (2018): 1801-1810.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
