Activities

The WORMVACS2.0 will cover five main activities, referred to within the project as “work packages” (WP), which can be summarised as follows:

1. The preparation of a database that includes all samples obtained by the participants prior to and during the project, to facilitate distribution of controlled and natural human S. mansoni and N. americanus infection samples for further analysis of protective immune responses, accompanied with the generation of a central data dashboard of all existing and newly incoming data (WP1).

2. Generation of molecular and cellular immunology data and multidimensional data analysis for discovery of new helminth target antigens with vaccine potential and increased understanding of helminth immunity (WP2).

3. The innovative, tailored production of vaccines/antigens: preparation of mRNA-, outer membrane vesicle- (OMV-) and plant-derived laboratory scale vaccine formulations for evaluation in rodent models for S. mansoni and N. americanus immunisation and challenge (WP3).

4. Pre-clinical vaccine testing in rodent models (WP4).

5. Phase 1 clinical trial with Sm-p80 mRNA vaccine testing the safety, tolerability, and preliminary toxicity (WP5).

The figure shows the overall approach of WORMVACS2.0 and the interconnection of the different activities.