Pieter Meysman and Prof. dr. dr. Benson Ogunjimi (photo) of the University of Antwerp today received the GSK Vaccines Prize for their pioneering work in immunology. Using artificial intelligence, they were able to decode pieces of DNA in our immune system that determine which ‘invaders’ our body recognises. This opens up fantastic prospects for better predicting and measuring the efficacy of vaccines and developing vaccines more quickly.
The GSK Vaccines Prize was awarded by pharmaceutical company GSK and the Royal Academy of Medicine. An interview with both laureates.
Our immune system has different types of T cells, each of which recognizes specific viruses or bacteria. This collection of T cells also differs from person to person. As a result, a vaccine may work better for one person than for another. Some will remain protected longer than others or experience more side effects.
T-cel als actor
Benson Ogunjimi, pediatric rheumatologist and immunologist: “From vaccinology to autoimmunity to cancer treatments: we are increasingly looking at the T-cell as an actor, especially after Covid-19. Until now, the classic technology was used in which the T cells were stimulated with antigens to observe the response, for example via ELISpot. In other words, to measure cytokines with which you can indicate the activity of T cells.”
“About ten years ago, we started studying the T-cell receptor, which is basically responsible for recognizing the antigens. These can be antigens from viruses, cancer, self-antigens… a broad gala. With the help of Pieter’s (Meysman) team, we have succeeded in using artificial intelligence to decode the genetic information that T-cells can use to recognize microbes.”
“When people get vaccinated, in our case with the hepatitis B vaccine, we look at their T-cell receptor potential before we vaccinate. So that we can estimate whether or not they will respond quickly to the vaccine. That was not possible with the classic technology.”
What perspectives does that open?
“Decoding via machine learning means that we can take interpretation and predictive ability in medicine much further. Certainly within immunology, a broad field. On the one hand, we can improve vaccine design – apply an extra layer of predictive capability to vaccine development; on the other hand, in clinical trials we achieve a higher quality of readouts. Thirdly, with the new world of personalized medicine we can predict, among other things, who will benefit from which vaccine (type). Within cancer immunology, for example, two of our PhD students are already working on a cancer vaccine.”
Which applications are feasible within your domain?
“Specifically in my field of rheumatology, we collect synovial fluid from rheumatic patients to analyze it using T-cell receptor sequencing. One of the applications there is to find out where those people have developed arthritis and to what extent viral infections contribute to this when they have a flare-up. Another application is the decoding of Lyme arthritis through our technology. There will also be much more scope through TCR engineering: modifying T cells and inserting a TCR (T cell receptor) in order to attack diseases. Finally, there is another field of application for the treatment of certain immune diseases in the subcutaneous or intravenous administration of drugs. Part of our technology can then presumably predict the side effects of that product.”
Peter Maysman, bio-engineer who tries to bridge the gap between the biomedical field and computer sciences/artificial intelligence, is of course also pleased with the prize. “For our part, we develop certain algorithms to process biological data. Ten years ago, Benson came to us with this new data type for which no solutions existed at the time. We helped lay the foundations for the new technology to achieve deep-learning-like things that are now receiving so much attention. Many of our algorithms are trained on supercomputers.”
Who manages whom in your collaboration?
Benson: “We direct each other. We have become a ‘brotherhood’, together with Kris (Laukens, professor of bioinformatics and biodata mining at the UA, ed.). “This is a completely new field of research, which is actually still in its infancy. In the future, medicine will be much more personalized. Think, for example, of a doctor who, based on your T-cell DNA information, can see which disease you have or which vaccine you need for optimal protection.”
“Pieter understands immunology almost as well as I do and, conversely, I also have a good high-level understanding of the options within computer science. We are hugely complementary. We also set up an unofficial consortium, Audacis. We work as a whole, even though we are not in the same place.”
Pieter: “Indeed, it is about a smooth collaboration in which we take care of the computer and analysis side as well as possible, and Benson has more insight into the experimental and clinical side. And that way we can both talk about everything.”
The spin-off ImmuneWatch™ was also born from this collaboration of data scientists and immunologists at the University of Antwerp. ImmuneWatch was founded to bring the T-cell technology, licensed to them by the university, closer to the practice of the medical world.
Unique ecosystem
Jamila Louahed, Head of Vaccines Global Research and Development, leads the research into new vaccines that takes place at pharmaceutical company GSK in Rixensart (Wallonia). She handed over the prize to the two winners. “In Belgium, we have an ecosystem of researchers, academics and companies that is unique in the world and that can lead to unique discoveries that improve the health of people around the world. Belgium is the Silicon Valley of the vaccine world, where fundamental research and application go hand in hand in practice. This project is a wonderful example of what we are capable of as a vaccine country.”
Chairman of the jury Prof. Brigitte Velkeniers of the Royal Academy of Medicine: “The work of Meysman and Ogunjimi provides us with important new insights into the functioning of the immune system and, more specifically, the prediction and modeling of the immune response after vaccination. The Academy hopes that this prestigious prize will stimulate the research group to continue on this excellent research path.”
The money that the researchers receive with the GSK Vaccines Prize will be used to further support research and ongoing projects. Most of the financial support for the research came from the UA. In addition, there was also support from the Fund for Scientific Research, among others.
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