# A Novel Vaccine for Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2020 · $532,412

## Abstract

SUMMARY
 Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is a saprophytic bacterium readily
isolated from soil and stagnant water of tropical countries. Burkholderia mallei is a host-adapted clone of B.
pseudomallei that does not persist outside of its equine reservoir and causes the zoonosis glanders. Infection
by these organisms typically occurs via the respiratory or percutaneous route, and the most common
manifestations are life-threatening pneumonia and bacteremia. Melioidosis and glanders are difficult to
diagnose and require prolonged antibiotic therapy that has a low success rate. There is no vaccine to protect
against these highly pathogenic bacteria, and there is concern regarding their use as biological warfare agents
given that B. mallei has already been utilized in this manner on multiple occasions. For these reasons, the
Federal Select Agent Program has classified B. pseudomallei and B. mallei as Tier 1 agents and the
development of medical countermeasures is a priority.
 Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), a paramyxovirus, is thought to be a contributing factor of kennel cough.
Several characteristics of the virus make it an excellent vector for developing countermeasures including
safety, replication in mammalian cell lines approved for vaccine production, and efficacy (single dose
immunization provides protective immunity against multiple infectious agents). Moreover, intranasal
immunization of PIV5-based vaccines elicits robust mucosal immune responses, thus providing an ideal
platform for vaccinating against respiratory pathogens.
 In this application, we present preliminary data demonstrating that single dose immunization with PIV5
expressing the Burkholderia autotransporter protein BatA provides excellent protective immunity against lethal
respiratory infection with B. pseudomallei and B. mallei. Based on these results, we propose to use PIV5 to
develop a vaccine for these Tier 1 select agents focusing on 2 specific aims. In Aim 1, we will examine the
mechanisms of protection by PIV5-BatA and improve efficacy. In Aim 2, we will develop a PIV5-based vaccine
containing multiple Burkholderia high-value antigens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9850852
- **Project number:** 5R01AI117290-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT J HOGAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $532,412
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9850852

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9850852, A Novel Vaccine for Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei (5R01AI117290-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9850852. Licensed CC0.

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