Grants and collaborations
Ongoing projects
Development of flagellin-based subunit vaccines against corona viruses 2020-2.1.1-ED-2020-00013
In connection with the fight against the coronavirus epidemic, we want to develop a new type of protein-based vaccine that elicits an innate immune response and an acquired immunity, thus making our body resistant to the attack of the real virus. The idea is to combine two proteins in the vaccine: one is the part of the flagellin protein, the main component of the locomotion organelle of the salmonella bacterium, which has been shown to be a useful carrier or excipient to increase the effectiveness of vaccines. The other component of the fusion protein would be the cell surface-binding portion of the „spike” protein responsible for recognizing the target cell on the surface of selected animal coronaviruses. It is believed that by incorporating the receptor-binding domain of the coronavirus, which directs entry into infected cells, inside the flagellin, there is a promising potential for the production of an effective vaccine.
Novel genomic switches for 2nd generation in vivo models of human disease (NEMZ_16-1-2017-0003 E!11304-SwitchItOn)
The aim of this collaboration is to develop novel ON-type gene expression systems based on the currently available, OFF-type E-Rex and PEACE systems, where the term “ON-type” means that gene expression is switched on in the presence, and off in the absence of the relevant drugs (erythromycin, phloretin). Turning these OFF-type systems into ON-type (i.e. achieving reverse molecules) also includes and requires development of a novel computational modelling methodology for such systems. Further aim is to improve the recently developed, already ON-type RuX system (regulated by RU486). With the international SwitchItOn consortium, a combination of three SMEs and an academia, we have combined the needed expertise and knowledge to bring novel switches for the 2nd generation of models of human disease to the market. The project has a website (http://switchiton.eu/) and runs until Q2 of 2021 by plans.
Successfully completed grants:
Development of novel Hot-Start (HS) polymerase technologies for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (NEMZ_15-1-2016-0001, E!9360-NEWHS4PCR)
The goal of the project was to create a new quality class of HS PCR reagents and qPCR mixes. The project has accomplished with great success and the products developed are now available on the market world-wide. The project has combined the skill sets of two SMEs, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) reagents development (PCR Biosystems) and protein biochemistry (TargetEx).
The goal of the project is to develop and make manufacture-ready a novel, innovative, market-ready, ISO certified RNase inhibitor that is often used in research and human diagnostics. For this, we will produce a protein that is more stable than the marketed inhibitors due to particular changes in the amino acid composition. Besides, we are planning to develop a buffer system that increases the stability of the protein. The project runs until end of 2020 by plans.
Address
TargetEx Ltd.
H-2120 Dunakeszi Madách Imre u 31/2.
Hungary
Zsolt Lőrincz, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Phone
Tel.: +36-30-352-9529