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Research Highlights
Discovery Group
The urgent need for new vaccines has HIGHLIGHTS
been dramatically brought into the public
spotlight over the past year by the Ebola • Immunological and vaccine-developmental studies on
dengue, RSV and other infectious disease pathogens (R.
epidemic in West Africa as well as numerous Anderson)
other infectious disease outbreaks • Human immune responses to HIV and HCV (L. Barrett)
throughout the world. To help meet this • Tumor cell-secreted exosomes as an anti-cancer vaccine,
need, CCfV Discovery Group researchers and fusogenic liposomes as adjuvants for intracellular
are making exciting advances towards the antigen delivery (R. Duncan)
development of new vaccine prospects. • Novel adjuvants in mouse model of infl uenza, and CIRN’s
reference laboratories for infl uenza antibody testing (T.
Th e past year 2014 witnessed progress on a number of Hatchette)
fronts. Immunological studies continue to elucidate • Molecular diagnostics and surveillance of infl uenza virus,
mechanisms of disease and protection against pneumococcus, and other pathogens (J. LeBlanc)
important bacterial pathogens such as Haemophilus • Genetically engineered oral commensal Strep. gordonii
infl uenzae and Chlamydia. Cell receptors for measles to express heterologous antigens in order to produce an
and related viruses have been identifi ed and steps oral pertussis vaccine (S. Lee & S. Halperin)
taken to target these receptors with novel anti- • Novel adjuvanted vaccine formulation for cancer
cancer therapeutics. International collaborations immunotherapy, RSV, anthrax, and Ebola virus, (M.
have resulted in the development and testing of Mansour, M. Karkada, M. Stanford)
novel vaccine candidates for dengue and melioidosis. • Engineering the vaccine strain of measles virus to create
Finally surveillance and functional studies continue recombinant multivalent vaccines. Use of measles and
to monitor the evolution and immunity of important related viruses for detection and oncolytic treatment
pathogens as infl uenza, HIV, hepatitis C virus, of adenocarcinomas bearing the tumor marker PVRL4/
pneumococcus and others. Discovery Group Nectin-4; Broad-spectrum antivirals (C. Richardson)
researchers work in an environment in which close • Immunoepidemiological studies for Haemophilus
collaboration enhances research and development infl uenzae vaccine development (M. Ulanova)
and provides excellent training opportunities for • Development of viral vector-based recombinant
future scientists. Close linkages also exist between gene delivery system to stimulate mucosal immunity;
members of the Discovery Group and the Center’s understanding the role of Th1/Th17 balance in anti-
Vaccine Evaluation and Health Policy & Translation Chlamydia immunity and development of clinical
Groups as well as industry and other universities immunoassays and parameters for evaluation of vaccine
nationally and abroad. candidates against Chlamydia (J. Wang)
Annual Report | 2014-15 t | 2014-15
Annual Repor 3 3
Discovery Group
The urgent need for new vaccines has HIGHLIGHTS
been dramatically brought into the public
spotlight over the past year by the Ebola • Immunological and vaccine-developmental studies on
dengue, RSV and other infectious disease pathogens (R.
epidemic in West Africa as well as numerous Anderson)
other infectious disease outbreaks • Human immune responses to HIV and HCV (L. Barrett)
throughout the world. To help meet this • Tumor cell-secreted exosomes as an anti-cancer vaccine,
need, CCfV Discovery Group researchers and fusogenic liposomes as adjuvants for intracellular
are making exciting advances towards the antigen delivery (R. Duncan)
development of new vaccine prospects. • Novel adjuvants in mouse model of infl uenza, and CIRN’s
reference laboratories for infl uenza antibody testing (T.
Th e past year 2014 witnessed progress on a number of Hatchette)
fronts. Immunological studies continue to elucidate • Molecular diagnostics and surveillance of infl uenza virus,
mechanisms of disease and protection against pneumococcus, and other pathogens (J. LeBlanc)
important bacterial pathogens such as Haemophilus • Genetically engineered oral commensal Strep. gordonii
infl uenzae and Chlamydia. Cell receptors for measles to express heterologous antigens in order to produce an
and related viruses have been identifi ed and steps oral pertussis vaccine (S. Lee & S. Halperin)
taken to target these receptors with novel anti- • Novel adjuvanted vaccine formulation for cancer
cancer therapeutics. International collaborations immunotherapy, RSV, anthrax, and Ebola virus, (M.
have resulted in the development and testing of Mansour, M. Karkada, M. Stanford)
novel vaccine candidates for dengue and melioidosis. • Engineering the vaccine strain of measles virus to create
Finally surveillance and functional studies continue recombinant multivalent vaccines. Use of measles and
to monitor the evolution and immunity of important related viruses for detection and oncolytic treatment
pathogens as infl uenza, HIV, hepatitis C virus, of adenocarcinomas bearing the tumor marker PVRL4/
pneumococcus and others. Discovery Group Nectin-4; Broad-spectrum antivirals (C. Richardson)
researchers work in an environment in which close • Immunoepidemiological studies for Haemophilus
collaboration enhances research and development infl uenzae vaccine development (M. Ulanova)
and provides excellent training opportunities for • Development of viral vector-based recombinant
future scientists. Close linkages also exist between gene delivery system to stimulate mucosal immunity;
members of the Discovery Group and the Center’s understanding the role of Th1/Th17 balance in anti-
Vaccine Evaluation and Health Policy & Translation Chlamydia immunity and development of clinical
Groups as well as industry and other universities immunoassays and parameters for evaluation of vaccine
nationally and abroad. candidates against Chlamydia (J. Wang)
Annual Report | 2014-15 t | 2014-15
Annual Repor 3 3
