LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Lundquist Institute (TLI) now has a vaccine candidate to combat the drug-resistant cause of healthcare acquired infections, the fungus Candida auris. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called this fungus the cause of severe health infections and a serious global threat. This fungal pathogen results in the deaths of 30-70% of those infected.
TLI’s vaccine candidate has been shown to effectively treat infected mice, and the next step is to conduct human clinical trials. The vaccine used with mice is composed of dual Candida cell surface antigens that upon vaccination produces neutralizing and immune enhancer antibodies. The vaccine also induces a robust T-cell immunity against the fungus, allowing mice to survive the infection. Finally, when combined with antifungal drugs, the vaccine results in an augmented survival of mice.
“The preclinical data shows that this truly first multi-drug resistant (MDR) fungus and its ability to cause lethal infections are likely to be controlled by effective vaccination strategies” said Ashraf Ibrahim, PhD, Investigator at The Lundquist Institute.
“The optimized manufacturing of the dual antigen vaccine has been accomplished and our next steps would be to produce it in good quantities to test it in human clinical trials,” continued Ibrahim. “We now have the capability to protect patients who are infected by this deadly pathogen.”
It is important to note that TLI holds multiple patents on this technology which are available for licensing. Given the scope of this emerging fungal threat, the vaccine will be critical in the fight against Candida auris.
Note to news media: Dr. Ibrahim is available for interviews.
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Max Benavidez The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation 310-200-2682 max.benavidez@lundquist.org
