{"id":8687,"date":"2023-03-15T20:39:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T20:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/sherc\/?page_id=8687"},"modified":"2025-08-12T22:08:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T22:08:48","slug":"ppp-year-3-lee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/sherc\/ppp-year-3-lee\/","title":{"rendered":"PPP Year 3, Lee Multivalent Display of HPV Antigens using Self-Assembling Peptides"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pilot Project, Year 3<\/h1>\n

Multivalent Display of HPV Antigens using Self-Assembling Peptides<\/h2>\n

Since the introduction of the first HPV vaccine in 2006, the prevalence of certain HPV types declined among women from the general population aged 14-24 years. The currently available HPV vaccine (Gardasil\u00ae 9) was developed using virus-like particles (VLPs). It prevents against nine of the over 150 HPV types; two that cause warts (types 6, 11) and seven that can cause cancer (types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58). While effective, the HPV vaccine has certain limitations.<\/p>\n

For example, they require extensive purification protocols, two doses, and refrigeration. Therefore, research efforts continue to strive toward finding next-generation vaccines that have strong immunogenicity and are cost-effective.<\/p>\n

Recently, short synthetic self-assembled peptides showed promise as a vaccine platform. These peptides, similar to VLPs, spontaneously assemble into stable ordered amyloid-like fibrils. Unlike VLPs, the fibrils are extremely robust at varying temperatures, pH, and solvents. The self-assembled fibrils are also significantly larger than the small spherical VLPs. Thus, the fibrils allow for potential increased immunogenicity and cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n

We hypothesized that self-assembled fibrils displaying HPV antigens produce strong immune responses due to the geometrical and multivalent display of peptide antigens along the fibril.<\/p>\n

To test this hypothesis, we synthesized previously identified HPV antigens that will be chemically conjugated to the self-assembling peptides fibrils. Immune responses were assessed using a common murine model. Potential vaccine candidates will be further assessed via an HPV challenge model in mice.<\/p>\n

Funding:<\/strong> The study is funded by NIMHD\/NIH U54MD012388<\/p>\n

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About the investigator<\/h2>\n
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Naomi Lee, PhD<\/h3>\n
Principal Investigator<\/strong><\/div>\n
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry<\/div>\n
Email:<\/strong> Naomi.Lee@nau.edu<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Crystal Morales<\/h3>\n
Doctoral student at the University of Arizona<\/strong><\/div>\n
American Indian Science and Engineering Society Conference – Third Place Graduate Research Oral Presentation\nSociety for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Travel Scholarship (2020, 2021)\nLouis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) awardee and mentor\nGraduate Student of the month Oct 2020\nOutstanding Hispanic Graduate Student (2021)<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Claira Sohn, PhD<\/h3>\n
Doctoral student at the University of Texas, San Antonio<\/strong><\/div>\n
Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) awardee and mentor<\/div>\n
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