ENGINEERINGNET.BE – A specific group of white blood cells, T cells, recognize pathogens in the form of antigens and then activate our immune system. 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 be more effective in one person than in another.
Pieter Meysman and Benson Ogunjimi of UAntwerp have succeeded in using AI to decode the genetic information that T cells use to recognize microbes, so that it is possible to predict how people will react to a vaccine. They also saw that the presence of some T-cells before vaccination could elicit a better immune response after vaccination.
Meysman: “In this way we can predict the efficacy and side effects of vaccines, improve their design and accelerate clinical testing.”
The project bridges the gap between different disciplines. Meysman contributes knowledge about AI as a computer scientist, and Ogunjimi uses his medical expertise as an immunologist and pediatric rheumatologist.
The spin-off ImmuneWatch was also born from this collaboration, which was founded to bring the T-cell technology licensed to them by the university closer to the practice of the medical world.
The money that the researchers receive with the GSK Vaccines Prize will be used to further support research and ongoing projects.