Roadmap for Immunomodulators

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Investigating chemicals/phytochemicals that modulate immune responses as well as attack bacteria.

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

Lack of knowledge on mechanisms of action
Investigating chemicals/phytochemicals that modulate immune responses as well as attack bacteria including host antimicrobials peptides (AMP).
Enhancing natural production in host.
Scaling up production.
Establishing specificity.
Study toxicity, safety and environmental impact of products
Immune response against agent.

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

Develop recombinant systems to produce and purify AMPs at scale.
Develop conjugation chemistries and release technologies (e.g., self-immolating, enzyme/microbial mediated).

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Understanding mode of action of the AMPs

Existing knowledge including successes and failures