Generating a COVID-19 vaccine using ministring DNA and virus-like particles

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis on an unprecedented scale, with over 1 million confirmed cases, spread over 200 countries. With the world at a virtual standstill, and no existing treatments, there is an enormous need for novel therapeutics and vaccines to combat COVID-19. Our group is working on a DNA vaccine strategy that exploits our proprietary miniaturized DNA vector technology, called ministring DNA (msDNA), to encode and deliver specially engineered copies of COVID-19 viral proteins. Once delivered into human host cells, these proteins will be designed to self-assemble into viral-like particles (VLPs). VLPs are safe, generate a strong host immune response, and have a record of commercial success as vaccine products. We are confident that our strategy will lead to the development of an effective COVID-19 DNA vaccine.

Faculty Supervisor:

Roderick Slavcev;Marc Aucoin;Mahla Poudineh;Shawn Wettig;Andrew Doxey

Student:

Ko Currie;Shifa Javed;Gurmeet Lall;Jennifer Aguiar

Partner:

Mediphage Bioceuticals Inc

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: