Recipient: Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg
Funding: Go-Bio initial (01/10/2022 to 30/09/2023, EUR 119,076)

Project description:

Human pathogenic adenoviruses can cause various diseases in humans. These include, for example, diseases of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract or conjunctiva. However, they are not only carriers of diseases, but at the same time a means of transport frequently used in the laboratory (adenoviral vector) for the introduction of foreign genes into an organism. This vector function can be used for various therapeutic options including gene therapies and the development of vaccines.

The team of the ADENOTHECA project recently developed a new method for the production of recombinant adenoviruses (rAd). This method seems particularly promising, as it is 10 to 100 times more efficient than previously known techniques. This can facilitate the production of rAds-based therapeutics in the future.

The new manufacturing methods open up the possibility of creating rAd-based gene libraries, which in turn allow high-resolution screenings and thus offer an advantage over previously established methods. A finished genomic library consists of the complete genome (e.g. a cell type or patient) that has been cut into thousands of overlapping fragments. These are integrated into a plasmid. The library can then be screened for specific genes. The development of similar technologies for similar vector libraries led to a rapid increase in the medical use of this vector.

The ADENOTHECA project aims to test the potential of transferring research results on recombinant viruses or vectors into clinical trials. In the future the technology will be used, for example, to fight tumours or develop new vaccines.