Lymphatic filariasis (LF) stands as a neglected tropical disease that afflicts millions, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Our company is at the forefront of LF vaccine and therapeutic development, offering a comprehensive suite of services designed to accelerate the discovery and delivery of novel solutions.
Overview of Lymphatic Filariasis
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a debilitating tropical illness primarily caused by parasitic infections from filarial worms, notably Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. The disease spreads through mosquito vectors that pick up larvae from infected individuals and pass them on to new hosts during blood meals. LF is characterized by severe symptoms like lymphedema, elephantiasis, and hydrocele, leading to enduring disability and socio-economic challenges for affected communities. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), over 120 million individuals are impacted worldwide, with a considerable population at risk, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
Fig.1 Protective immune response in humans against lymphatic filariasis. (Kalyanasundaram R., et al., 2020)
Vaccine Development for Lymphatic Filariasis
The development of effective vaccines against lymphatic filariasis has gained momentum as a crucial strategy for disease control and elimination. Traditional therapeutic methods, which rely heavily on mass drug administration (MDA) of antifilarial drugs, are essential but do not achieve complete sterilization of adult worms or long-lasting immunity. As such, vaccine development is seen as a complementary approach to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic regimens.
Table 1. Summary of the most successful recombinant protein vaccines for LF reported in the last 10 years. (Kalyanasundaram R., et al., 2020)
| Vaccine candidates |
Percent Protection |
Animal model used |
| Monovalent vaccine |
| TGA |
30% |
Jirds |
| TPX |
43% |
Jirds |
| GST |
61% |
Jirds |
| HSP12.6 |
58% |
Mice |
| TSP |
60% |
Mice |
| TPP |
71% |
Mastomys coucha |
| DIM-1 |
50% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Troponin 1 |
65% |
Mice |
| Heavy chain myosin |
84% |
Mice |
| ALT-2 with Tuftsin |
65% |
Mice |
| FAR binding proteins |
68% |
Jirds |
| Calponin |
42% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Cocktail vaccine |
| TGA+TPX |
74% |
Jirds |
| ALT-2+TPX |
80% |
Mice |
| TRX+TPX |
71% |
Mastomys coucha |
| Myosin+ TPP |
70% |
Jirds |
| iPGM + TPP |
70% |
Jirds |
| VAL-1+ALT-2 |
77-80% |
Jirds |
| Bivalent vaccine |
| HSP12.6+ALT-2 |
90% |
Mice |
| HSP12.6+TSP |
80% |
Mice |
| TSP+ALT-2 |
82% |
Mice |
| Bm-103, Bm-RAL-2 |
61% |
Jirds |
| Multivalent vaccine |
| Multi antigen peptide (MAP) |
63% |
Jirds |
| Multiepitope |
75% |
Mastomys coucha |
| HAT |
94% |
Mice |
| Chimeric multistage filarial epitope protein (FEP) |
70% |
Jirds |
| HAT |
45% |
Rhesus macaque |
| HAXT |
88% |
Mice |
| HAXT |
57% |
Rhesus macaque |
Therapeutics Development for Lymphatic Filariasis
The cornerstone of lymphatic filariasis management relies on the strategic use of antifilarial drugs, with combinations being employed to maximize efficacy and minimize resistance.
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole: This two-drug regimen has been the standard for mass drug administration in areas not co-endemic with onchocerciasis. DEC acts to kill adult worms and microfilariae, while albendazole assists in reducing the microfilarial load.
Ivermectin and Albendazole: In regions where onchocerciasis is prevalent, this combination has been adopted. Ivermectin is highly effective against microfilariae and plays a pivotal role in reducing transmission.
Triple Drug Regimen: Recent evidence from clinical trials, such as those conducted in Papua New Guinea, has indicated that a three-drug regimen consisting of Ivermectin, DEC, and Albendazole is significantly more effective in clearing microfilaremia compared to traditional two-drug combinations. This regimen achieved a clearance rate of 96% at 36 months, showcasing its potential superiority.
Our Services
Utilizing advanced immunological techniques, our vaccine development services encompass antigen discovery, formulation development, and preclinical evaluation to identify and characterize innovative vaccine candidates. Concurrently, our therapeutics development team is dedicated to enhancing current drug regimens and exploring new pharmacological agents. Through stringent clinical trials, we evaluate the safety and efficacy of our drug combinations, ensuring the highest standards of clinical excellence are met.
- Wuchereria bancrofti Infection Animal Models
- Brugia malayi Infection Animal Models
- Brugia timori Infection Animal Models
- Customized Animal Model Development
Our preclinical research services are designed to provide a robust foundation for the development of lymphatic filariasis vaccines and therapeutics. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Kalyanasundaram Ramaswamy, Vishal Khatri, and Nikhil Chauhan. "Advances in vaccine development for human lymphatic filariasis." Trends in parasitology 36.2 (2020): 195-205.
- King, Christopher L., et al. "A trial of a triple-drug treatment for lymphatic filariasis." New England Journal of Medicine 379.19 (2018): 1801-1810.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
