A sublingual nanofiber vaccine to prevent urinary tract infections.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major public health problem affecting millions of individuals each year. Recurrent UTIs are managed by long-term antibiotic use, making the alarming rise of antibiotic resistance a substantial threat to future UTI treatment. Extended antibiotic regimens may also have adverse effects on the microbiome. Here, we report the use of a supramolecular vaccine to provide long-term protection against uropathogenic Escherichia coli, which cause 80% of uncomplicated UTIs. We designed mucus-penetrating peptide-polymer nanofibers to enable sublingual (under the tongue) vaccine delivery and elicit antibody responses systemically and in the urogenital tract. In a mouse model of UTI, we demonstrate equivalent efficacy to high-dose oral antibiotics but with significantly less perturbation of the gut microbiome. We also formulate our vaccine as a rapid-dissolving sublingual tablet that raises response in mice and rabbits. Our approach represents a promising alternative to antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of UTIs.

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Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1126/sciadv.abq4120

Publication Info

Kelly, Sean H, Nicole L Votaw, Benjamin J Cossette, Yaoying Wu, Shamitha Shetty, Lucas S Shores, Luqman A Issah, Joel H Collier, et al. (2022). A sublingual nanofiber vaccine to prevent urinary tract infections. Science advances, 8(47). p. eabq4120. 10.1126/sciadv.abq4120 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/31659.

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Scholars@Duke

Collier

Joel Collier

Theodore Kennedy Professor of Biomedical Engineering

The Collier Lab designs biomaterials for a range of biomedical applications, with a focus on understanding and controlling adaptive immune responses.  Most materials investigated are created from molecular assemblies- proteins, peptides or bioconjugates that self-organize into useful structures such as nanofibers, gels, and particles. 

These biomaterials are being developed as novel treatments for infectious diseases, cancer, wound healing, and chronic inflammation.  Additionally, as these strategies are developed, basic insights into how materials engage the immune system are uncovered.


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