IP Library Granted Patent US 12674131
Granted Patent B2
US 12674131 · App. 17/532,784 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Live attenuated non-transmissible vaccines

Inventors: Sharon Tennant (Ellicott City, MD); James Eugene Galen (Eldersburg, MD)
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
C12N1/36A61K39/0275A61P31/04C12N15/74A61K2039/522C12N2840/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674131
App. No.
17/532,784
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides genetically modified microorganisms with reduced transmissibility, wherein the microorganism has been genetically modified to express a single stranded binding protein (SSB) regulated by an arabinose responsive promoter, wherein the microorganism has a reduced growth capacity in the absence of arabinose.

Claims (18)

1 . A genetically modified Salmonella enterica microorganism having reduced fecal-oral transmission, wherein the microorganism has been genetically modified to express a single stranded binding protein (SSB) regulated by a promoter that is responsive to arabinose, wherein the Salmonella enterica microorganism has a reduced growth capacity in the absence of arabinose, wherein the promoter is a P BAD promoter, wherein the microorganism has been further modified to reduce expression of endogenous AraB, AraA, and/or AraD, wherein an endogenous araBAD operon is deleted in the microorganism.

2 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the growth capacity is reduced by at least 50% in the absence of arabinose.

3 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism has been modified to express AraC.

4 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the PBAD promoter replaces the wild-type Pssb promoter.

5 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the endogenous ssb gene is inactivated or deleted.

6 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the Salmonella enterica is a typhoidal Salmonella strain.

7 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 6 , wherein the Salmonella enterica is S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi A, and/or S. Paratyphi B.

8 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the Salmonella enterica is a non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) strain.

9 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 8 , wherein the non-typhoidal Salmonella is selected from S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis.

10 . The genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism comprises a mutation at a locus selected from the group consisting of guaBA, aroC, aroD, clpP, clpX, htrA, pipA, one or more capsular biosynthesis machinery genes, and combinations thereof.

11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the genetically modified microorganism of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

12 . A method of inducing an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an immunologically-effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 11 .

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is orally administered.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is intranasally administered.

15 . The method of any of claim 12 , wherein the genetic modification reduces fecal-oral transmission of the genetically modified microorganism.

16 . The method of any of claim 12 , comprising administering a combination of genetically modified microorganisms.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the combination comprises a plurality of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) strains.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the combination comprises S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis S. Dublin, and S. Cholerasuis.