The significant diversity of microsporidia, with around 220 genera and 1,700 species, complicates the development of targeted therapeutic strategies and vaccines. Through cutting-edge vaccine and therapeutic development services, we are at the forefront of combating these parasitic diseases.
Introduction to Microsporidiosis
Microsporidiosis is an opportunistic infectious disease caused by microsporidia, which are obligate intracellular parasites. These eukaryotic pathogens were first discovered over 150 years ago and are known to infect a wide array of hosts, including humans. The majority of human infections are associated with species such as Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which predominantly affect immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with HIV/AIDS. Clinical manifestations of microsporidiosis can range from gastrointestinal issues, such as chronic diarrhea and wasting syndrome, to systemic infections affecting various organ systems including the eyes (keratoconjunctivitis) and central nervous system (encephalitis).
Fig.1 Mechanism of action of therapy and therapeutic targets for microsporidiosis. (Wei J., et al., 2022)
Vaccine Development for Microsporidiosis
- Epitope-Based Vaccines: These vaccines are at the forefront of modern vaccine development, leveraging immunoinformatics to predict and utilize specific protein fragments that elicit an immune response. In the context of microsporidiosis, these vaccines are designed to target the spore wall proteins (SWPs) of pathogens like Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei, which are crucial for host cell recognition and invasion.
- DNA Vaccines: Studies are underway to develop DNA vaccines against microsporidian infections by encoding for key microsporidian proteins, which, upon vaccination, can initiate a robust cellular immune response.
Therapeutics Development for Microsporidiosis
Fumagillin
Fumagillin, originally derived from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, has been shown to be effective against several microsporidian species. It acts by inhibiting methionine aminopeptidase, an enzyme critical for protein synthesis in microsporidia. Clinical studies have demonstrated that fumagillin can lead to noticeable improvements in cases with severe microsporidiosis, especially those infected with Encephalitozoon species.
Albendazole
Albendazole is often the first-line therapeutics for microsporidiosis; however, its efficacy is variable, particularly against Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Studies have shown that while albendazole can significantly reduce the burden of certain microsporidian infections, it fails to completely eradicate the pathogen in all cases, necessitating further research into its limitations.
Our Services
Vaccine Development: Our vaccine development pipeline incorporates the latest advances in immunology and molecular biology to create effective and safe vaccines against microsporidian infections. We focus on epitope discovery, vector design, and formulation optimization to enhance vaccine potency.
Therapeutics Development: Therapeutics development at our company involves multi-target approaches to combat the diverse and complex nature of microsporidian pathogens. We are committed to researching and developing novel compounds with potent activity against microsporidia, backed by rigorous preclinical testing.
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Disease Models
- Microsporidia Infection Models: Anncaliia, Encephalitozoon, E. bieneusi, Microsporidium, Nosema, Pleistophora sp., Trachipleistophora, Vittaforma, and Tubulinosema
In addition, we provide the following services to provide a solid foundation for vaccine and drug development.
- Biomarker Identification: Researching immune correlates of protection and potential biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic responses is a priority. These biomarkers are critical for assessing the effectiveness of new interventions and guiding future research directions.
- In Vitro Studies: We conduct laboratory studies to assess the efficacy of vaccine candidates and therapeutic agents against Metagonimus species. Our advanced laboratory facilities enable comprehensive evaluations that inform subsequent stages of development.
If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Wei, Junhong, et al. "Current therapy and therapeutic targets for microsporidiosis." Frontiers in Microbiology 13 (2022): 835390.
- Han, Bing, Guoqing Pan, and Louis M. Weiss. "Microsporidiosis in humans." Clinical Microbiology Reviews 34.4 (2021): e00010-20.
- Islam, Sk Injamamul, Moslema Jahan Mou, and Saloa Sanjida. "In silico-based vaccine design against hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis in shrimp." Trends in Sciences 19.21 (2022): 2679-2679.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
