# Prevention of GVHD by a probiotic exopolysaccharide.

> **NIH NIH R41** · HASENTECH, INC. · 2020 · $300,000

## Abstract

Abstract
Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is an often lethal complication from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation used as treatment for a variety of hematologic malignancies. GVHD results from an attack on
host cells by alloreactive T cells of the donor. Standard prevention and treatment for GVHD is administration
of broadly immunosuppressive drugs, which suppress alloreactive T cells. These treatments however, have as a
side-effect, increased risk for infection. Despite the drugs available for prevention and treatment, ~50% of
these patients develop acute GVHD, and many of these continue on to develop chronic GVHD, which results in
high mortality. Once established, cGVHD is difficult to treat.
We have identified a molecule, exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a commensal soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis
that induces anti-inflammatory myeloid cells, which inhibit activation of T cells. We have data showing that
EPS inhibits mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) in cultures of allogeneic murine cells, as well as allogeneic
human cells. Further, EPS administration inhibits development of GVHD in mice receiving allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cell transplants. The goal of the first year of this grant is to determine if EPS can be a novel
drug used to ameliorate GVHD in humans. To test this, we will use “humanized” NGS-HLA-A2 mice, in which
the immunodeficient NGS-HLA-A2 mice expressing human HLA-A2 MHC class I molecules, are reconstituted
with human peripheral blood monocytes. Such engraftment will result in allo-GVHD due to activation of donor
T cells by allogeneic HLA-A2 molecules of the recipient, and also xeno-GVHD due to activation of donor T cells
by xenogeneic murine molecules. This model has been shown to serve as an excellent model for human GVHD.
In our experiments, we will first check to establish that hPBMCs are engrafted in EPS-treated NGS-LHA-A2
mice and determine maximal tolerated dose of EPS (Aim 1). In Aim 2, we will administer EPS to recipients and
determine if the clinical symptoms of GVHD are inhibited, and in Aim 3, we will test if EPS affects the graft vs
leukemia (GvL) effect resulting from allo-transplantation. If EPS inhibits GVHD, but does not significantly
affect the GvL effect or reconstitution of hematopoietic cells, we will conclude that EPS is likely a novel drug for
prevention and treatment of GVHD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10081555
- **Project number:** 1R41AI155281-01
- **Recipient organization:** HASENTECH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine L. Knight
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $300,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-07 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10081555

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10081555, Prevention of GVHD by a probiotic exopolysaccharide. (1R41AI155281-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10081555. Licensed CC0.

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