# Center for Biologically Inspired Nano-scaffolds for Mitigating Chlamydia trachomatis Pathogenesis

> **NIH NIH U19** · LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC · 2023 · $1,878,172

## Abstract

Abstract
In order to address the critical need for a Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine, we propose to establish the NIH
funded Sexually Transferred Infectious “Cooperative Research Center for NanoScaffold-Based Chlamydia
trachomatis Vaccines.”, which is a collaborative center between LLNL, UCI and UCD. The Center is composed
of scientifically diverse synergistic teams, which will be dedicated to developing new capabilities for expanding
the application of nano-formulated vaccine technologies for mitigating health effects associated with
Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct)is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted
infection (STI), affecting over 130 million people every year, and is the most common cause of preventable
blindness worldwide. The pressing public health need for a vaccine to prevent diseases caused by Ct is clear.
Despite considerable efforts to develop a chlamydial vaccine, none have been forthcoming. While studies have
shown that immunization with the Ct major outer membrane protein (MOMP) can induce significant
protection, formulation and delivery of MOMP-related vaccines remains a major hurdle. This Center will focus
on developing and testing a safe and efficacious Ct vaccine that overcomes the limitations of current efforts
using LLNL nanolipoprotein particle (NLP) technology. NLPs are 10-25 nm disc we can engineer that will
provide a unique path forward presenting functional Ct antigens as well as a novel tool for delivery of nucleic
acids. We will evaluate two different types of nano-formulations with different delivery techniques, while
validating an idealized mouse challenge model for Ct. Establishing this Cooperative Research Center (CRC) will
further integrate LLNL's NLP-based nanotechnology with development of subunit vaccines and nucleic acid
delivery, enabling us to accelerate the generation of a safe and efficacious Ct vaccine. The Center's efforts will
include three research projects, which will tackle diverse approaches to vaccine development:
 § Project 1 will develop subunit vaccines based on serovar-specific forms of MOMP, as well as include
 polymorphic proteins, presented in nanolipoproteins.
 § Project 2 will demonstrate nanolipoprotein delivery of nucleic acid–encoded vaccines.
 § Project 3 will validate serovar-specific responses in mouse models, enabling us to refine, possibly
 combine, and apply formulations developed in Projects 1 and 2.
The research projects will be supported by the Administrative Core and three scientific cores: 1) Bioinformatics
and Statistics, 2) Protein Production and Characterization, and 3) Immunology. Overall, this CRC represents a
unique approach to the development of vaccines against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by Ct by
establishing synergistic collaborations between experts in Ct and infectious disease with experts in structural
biology and nanotechnology. Importantly, the proposed technology platform will form the basis for eradicating
multiple...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10694893
- **Project number:** 5U19AI144184-05
- **Recipient organization:** LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Adrian Coleman
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $1,878,172
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-08 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10694893

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10694893, Center for Biologically Inspired Nano-scaffolds for Mitigating Chlamydia trachomatis Pathogenesis (5U19AI144184-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10694893. Licensed CC0.

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