Joseph Horzempa, assistant professor of biology at West Liberty University, has co-authored scientific research on potential vaccines in collaboration with a team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh. The study, “A Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain that Improves Stimulation of Antigen-Presenting Cells Does Not Enhance Vaccine Efficacy,” recently was published online at PloSONE.org.
Funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and institutional funding from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the research examined whether in vitro screening of potential tularemia vaccine candidates for enhanced stimulation of antigen-presenting cells would improve a candidate’s immunogenicity and, ultimately, protection from the potentially lethal disease. Tularemia usually is associated with handling of infected animals or transmission by arthropod vectors but also may be used as a weapon by terrorists.
Horzempa explained, “Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious microorganism with fewer than 10 inhaled bacteria causing the fatal disease tularemia. This bacterium has been weaponized and could be used for bioterrorism, prompting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to classify F. tularensis as a Category A biodefense agent. My long term goals involve understanding the pathogenesis, persistence, and transmission of F. tularensis. Ultimately, I am interested in identifying novel therapeutics to combat this pathogen and other bacterial pathogens.”
Researchers cultivated live vaccine strains of Francisella tularensis in an effort to improve vaccine efficacy with one that stimulated antigen-producing cells better than a wild-type strain. After extensive testing, the scientists concluded that the cultivated mutant strains did not predict better protection against the disease.
The findings are a valuable step in formulating an effective vaccine to reduce both naturally occurring tularemia cases and to protect against a possible intentional release of the bacterium.
WLU President Robin C. Capehart said, “It reflects well on West Liberty University that faculty of the College of Sciences are involved in such important research. Dr. Horzempa’s work is one of many research projects in which WLU faculty members and students are involved. The quality of our College of Science faculty is one reason the school has experienced significant growth in recent years.”