# Peptide-VLP Vaccines

> **NIH NIH U19** · HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED · 2020 · $274,596

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is an obligate human pathogen that causes gonorrhea, one of the most common
sexually transmitted infections. The incidence of Ng infection in the United States is rising, and the emergence
of multi-antibiotic resistant strains have led to fears that treatment options for gonorrhea are decreasing. The
overall goal of the Gonorrhea Vaccine Cooperative Research Center (GV CRC) is to identify promising new
vaccine candidates for Ng. In this project, our central hypothesis is that an effective gonorrhea vaccine can be
developed by engineering highly immunogenic vaccines that specifically target critical surface-exposed Ng
epitopes. To do this, we will utilize a flexible and highly immunogenic vaccine platform technology that is based
of bacteriophage virus-like particles (VLPs). In Aim 1, we will engineer VLP-based vaccines that target surface-
exposed epitopes of four Ng antigens that are potential vaccine targets. In Aim 2, we will measure the
immunogenicity of candidate vaccines and assess the bactericidal and opsonophagocytic activity of induced
antibodies. In Aim 3, we will test the efficacy of the most promising VLP vaccines in challenge studies using
mouse genital tract infection models. These studies will benefit from extensive collaborations with the GV CRC
Core facilities and complement the vaccine development efforts of the other Projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9900729
- **Project number:** 5U19AI144180-02
- **Recipient organization:** HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED
- **Principal Investigator:** Bryce C Chackerian
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $274,596
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9900729

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9900729, Peptide-VLP Vaccines (5U19AI144180-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9900729. Licensed CC0.

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