The third Scientific Project investigates the premise that a detailed understanding of the acquired immune response to the T. pallidum<\/em> vaccine candidate antigens (TpVCA) from Scientific Projects 1 and 2 will assist a reiterative process that will improve syphilis vaccine design.<\/p>\n State-of-the-art single B cell technology is used to isolate na\u00efve and memory rabbit and human B cells that produce TpVCA-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb), which are then functionally investigated in Scientific Projects 1 and 2 for a role in protection from infection. The epitopes recognized by the most potent mAbs are determined, as are the crystal structures of mAb-TpVCA complexes, to uncover the TpVCA domains that bear functional anti-bacterial epitopes. The TpVCA are assessed for prevalence and levels of CD4 TFH and TH1 cells in the blood of persons with symptomatic and asymptomatic T. pallidum<\/em> infection, and the fate of T. pallidum<\/em>-specific CD4 T-cells are classified as either migrating to the sites of infection or being retained as tissue resident memory T cells. \u00a0Prioritized vaccinogen formulations determined in Scientific Projects 1 and 2 are assessed in combination with custom human-track adjuvants in mouse humoral and CD4 immunogenicity assays.<\/p>\n Scientific Project 3 critically synergizes with the other Projects and Cores to downselect and optimize antigen formulations and adjuvants with the goal of delivering a lead T. pallidum<\/em> vaccine candidate suitable for advancement to first-in-human clinical trials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary The third Scientific Project investigates the premise that a detailed understanding of the acquired immune response to the T. pallidum vaccine candidate antigens (TpVCA) from Scientific Projects 1 and 2 will assist a reiterative process that will improve syphilis vaccine design. State-of-the-art single B cell technology is used to isolate na\u00efve and memory rabbit…<\/p>\n