Kanpur, Jul 21 (INB) Scientists at IIT Kanpur have identified how the experimental molecule EP67 activates key immune cells, a finding that could aid the development of safer vaccine boosters and next-generation immune-based therapies, the premier institute said on Tuesday.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have uncovered the molecular mechanism through which EP67, an experimental vaccine adjuvant candidate, activates the C5aR1 receptor on human immune cells.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), provides the first detailed structural view of EP67 binding to its target receptor, offering insights that could help researchers design safer vaccines and improve immune-based treatments, IIT Kanpur posted on LinkedIn.
Led by Prof Arun Shukla from the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE), the research found that EP67 selectively activates dendritic cells and macrophages, which are essential for building long-lasting immunity, while showing minimal activation of neutrophils associated with unwanted inflammation. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), the team captured the interaction between EP67 and the C5aR1 receptor, revealing how the molecule switches on immune responses.
The findings are expected to support further refinement of EP67 and accelerate the development of advanced vaccines and immunotherapies, the institute added. The study involved researchers from IIT Kanpur and collaborators from the University of Southern California and The University of Queensland, Australia. It was supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the Department of Biotechnology, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
