In vitro germinal centers

US8003385B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SANOFI PASTEUR VAXDESIGN CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Selva Sukumar · Berkeley, US
• Mohey Eldin M. El Shikh · Richmond, US
• John G. Tew · Mechanicsville, US
• Guzman Sanchez-Schmitz · Orlando, US
• Donald Drake, III · Orlando, US
• Luis Mosquera · Miami, US
• Conan Li · Los Altos, US
• Anatoly Kachurin · Orlando, US
• Russell Higbee · Orlando, US
• Heather Fahlenkamp · Cleveland, US
• Eric Mishkin · Oviedo, US
• William L. Warren · Orlando, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 23, 2011
• Expiry date: Feb 17, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2535/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention incorporates germinal centers (GCs) into three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue constructs (ETCs). In an embodiment, we have incorporated the GC in the design of an artificial immune system (AIS) to examine immune responses to vaccines and other compounds. Development of an in vitro GC adds functionality to an AIS, in that it enables generation of an in vitro human humoral response by human B lymphocytes that is accurate and reproducible, without using human subjects. The invention also permits evaluation of, for example, vaccines, allergens, and immunogens, and activation of human B cells specific for a given antigen, which can then be used to generate human antibodies. In an embodiment of the present invention the function of the in vitro GC is enhanced by placing FDCs and other immune cells in a 3D ETC; FDCs appear more effective over a longer time (antibody production is sustained for up to about 14 days.