Browsing by Author "Arap, Wadih"

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    Design and proof of concept for targeted phage-based COVID-19 vaccination strategies with a streamlined cold-free supply chain
    (National Academy of Sciences, 2021) Staquicini, Daniela I.; Tang, Fenny H.F.; Markosian, Christopher; Yao, Virginia J.; Staquicini, Fernanda I.; Dodero-Rojas, Esteban; Contessoto, Vinícius G.; Davis, Deodate; O’Brien, Paul; Habib, Nazia; Smith, Tracey L.; Bruiners, Natalie; Sidman, Richard L.; Gennaro, Maria L.; Lattime, Edmund C.; Libutti, Steven K.; Whitford, Paul C.; Burley, Stephen K.; Onuchic, José Nelson; Arap, Wadih; Pasqualini, Renata; Center for Theoretical Biological Physics
    Development of effective vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global imperative. Rapid immunization of the entire human population against a widespread, continually evolving, and highly pathogenic virus is an unprecedented challenge, and different vaccine approaches are being pursued. Engineered filamentous bacteriophage (phage) particles have unique potential in vaccine development due to their inherent immunogenicity, genetic plasticity, stability, cost-effectiveness for large-scale production, and proven safety profile in humans. Herein we report the development and initial evaluation of two targeted phage-based vaccination approaches against SARS-CoV-2: dual ligand peptide-targeted phage and adeno-associated virus/phage (AAVP) particles. For peptide-targeted phage, we performed structure-guided antigen design to select six solvent-exposed epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. One of these epitopes displayed on the major capsid protein pVIII of phage induced a specific and sustained humoral response when injected in mice. These phage were further engineered to simultaneously display the peptide CAKSMGDIVC on the minor capsid protein pIII to enable their transport from the lung epithelium into the systemic circulation. Aerosolization of these “dual-display” phage into the lungs of mice generated a systemic and specific antibody response. In the second approach, targeted AAVP particles were engineered to deliver the entire S protein gene under the control of a constitutive CMV promoter. This induced tissue-specific transgene expression, stimulating a systemic S protein-specific antibody response in mice. With these proof-of-concept preclinical experiments, we show that both targeted phage- and AAVP-based particles serve as robust yet versatile platforms that can promptly yield COVID-19 vaccine prototypes for translational development.
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    Systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of materials
    (2014-08-26) Souza, Glauco R.; Pasqualini, Renata; Arap, Wadih; Killian, Thomas Charles; Raphael, Robert M.; Stark, Daniel Joshua; Rice University; Board of Regents of the University of Texas System; United States Patent and Trademark Office
    Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.
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    Systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of materials
    (2020-11-24) Souza, Glauco R.; Pasqualini, Renata; Arap, Wadih; Killian, Thomas Charles; Raphael, Robert M.; Stark, Daniel Joshua; Rice University; The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System; United States Patent and Trademark Office
    Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.
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    Systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of materials
    (2018-03-06) Souza, Glauco R.; Pasqualini, Renata; Arap, Wadih; Killian, Thomas Charles; Raphael, Robert M.; Stark, Daniel Joshua; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
    Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.