Code
01C05820
Duration
15 April 2020 → 14 January 2021
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Promotor
Research disciplines
-
Natural sciences
- Infectious diseases
- Virology
-
Engineering and technology
- Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2
antibody
prophylaxis
affinity maturation
production in yeast
Project description
Vaccines against respiratory viral infections are likely to lack full efficacy in the most vulnerable aged population group. In this project we develop a yeast-based, cost-effective and highly scalable prototyping-and manufacturing technology for highly potent virus-neutralizing VHH-Fc anitbodies with
engineered prolonged halflife. Such passive immunization strategy complements vaccination-based approaches during peak periods of infection risk. This technology complements the antibody discovery
efforts that are ongoing in collaboration with the Saelens lab.