Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages (or phages) are viruses which only infect bacteria.
Vaccines
In traditional vaccination the whole disease-causing organism, or part of a it is given to a host to stimulate an immune response and protect against subsequent infection.
Phage Vaccines
Using BigDNA's patented phage vaccination technology a DNA vaccine is delivered in a specially modified bacteriophage particle.
Bacteriophage DNA vaccination
Phage vaccines are cheap to produce, stable for easy transport
and storage, allow rapid development and production of new vaccines,
and have the potential to be delivered by the oral route.
In conventional vaccination an inactivated organism or part of a disease-causing organism is given to a host to stimulate the creation of antibodies that recognize and attack a particular infection thus protecting against subsequent infection.
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages (or phages) are essentially viruses which infect
bacteria. After infection, phages will either survive or replicate
within the host without killing it, or kill the bacteria and
release hundreds of progeny. It is important to note that
phages are distinct from human viruses. They cannot infect
humans or other animals, only their bacterial hosts. As phages
are found wherever there are bacteria, the human body already
contains billions of different phages as part of its normal
ecosystem.
In DNA vaccination, a small, circular piece of genetically
engineered bacterial DNA (called a plasmid) is injected into
the cells of the body, where it is translated and pathogenic
proteins are produced. These proteins are recognised as foreign
and are displayed on the cell surface to alert the immune system,
which then triggers a range of immune responses.
Bacteriophage DNA vaccination The BigDNA technology
is called bacteriophage DNA vaccination. This uses the combined
benefits of phages and DNA vaccines in a process where the phage's
genetic material is altered in order to contain a DNA vaccine.
Whole phage particles are then used to vaccinate the host. The
vaccinated human or animal then reads the DNA vaccine and its
own cells become vaccine producing factories.