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Provide Human Reticulocytes for in vitro Culturing of Malaria Parasites

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W81XWH-12-C-0100
Agency Tracking Number: A2-5281
Amount: $609,961.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A11-124
Solicitation Number: 2011.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-06-04
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-11-03
Small Business Information
180 N Vinedo Ave
Pasadena, CA -
United States
DUNS: 168312028
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Julian Down
 Director of Biologics
 (626) 381-9974
 jaxtelle@chromologic.com
Business Contact
 Naresh Menon
Title: CEO
Phone: (626) 381-9974
Email: nmenon@chromologic.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

The parasite Plasmodium vivax, transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, is the second major cause of malaria worldwide. Research focusing on P. vivax has been hindered by lack of a practical continuous culture system as the parasite preferentially invades young erythrocytes (reticulocytes), which are difficult to obtain routinely and in high enough numbers. To address this critical need, ChromoLogic, LLC proposed and developed genetically engineered cells bearing the features of artificial reticulocytes (ArtRet) so as to provide the Army with surrogate cells that are capable of being invaded by the P. vivax malaria and ensure long term culturing of the parasite. The ArtRet prototype system was able to combine the construction and production of lentiviral vectors with transduction of four different erythroleukemic cell lines for delivery of certain genes that confers phenotypes that render them more desirable for invasion and growth of the parasite. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of cells based on reporter gene expression allowed enrichment of transduced populations. Thus this proof-of-concept has demonstrated success criteria in the feasibility of producing log9 to log10 surrogate host cells capable of continuous and consistent self-renewal and bearing essential phenotypes that allow cost-effective maintenance of the blood-stage P. vivax parasite in culture.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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