STRUCTURAL RESEARCH ON PROTEIN CANDIDATES FOR AN AIDS VACCINE IN EARTH
AND SPACE CONDITIONS (VAKTSINA-K)
Research Area: Macromolecular Crystal Growth
Expedition(s): 9-11, 13, and 16- 17
Principle Investigator(s): ● Grigoriy Y. Shcherbakov, MD, PhD, Biopreparat,
Moscow, Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Structural Research on Protein Candidates for an AIDS Vaccine in Earth and Space Condition
(Vaktsina-K) investigation aims to create a new generation of vaccines against viral infections
based on artificial proteins with predetermined antigenicity and immunogenicity. Analysis of
the spatial structure provides information on the conformation of the active center and on the
efficacy of the protein construction, and allows necessary changes to be introduced in order to
increase the biological activity of artificial proteins.
EARTH BENEFITS
As a result of Vaktsina-K, the spatial structure of the protein
monocrystals obtained are being studied, the mechanism of their
action is being determined, and the possibility of using the
information obtained to create new pharmaceuticals is being
assessed to facilitate the creation of new vaccines against harmful
viral diseases.SPACE BENEFITS
Improvements in the technology for producing biocrystals in
microgravity and development of crystallographic research in space
will make it possible to obtain high-quality protein crystals.RESULTS
As a result of the use of several types of precipitants for crystallizing TBI protein in microgravity,
monocrystals were obtained that were several times greater in size than those grown on Earth.
In a number of instances, the total dimensions of the crystals permitted testing of their quality
(reflective capability) using X-ray diffraction methods. Vaktsina-K resulted in crystals of rod-like
or tubular shape, or without defined facets with a maximum size of about 200 μm in the
presence of amorphous precipitation.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
Activation of the
crystallization process in
the Luch-2 hardware.
Roscosmos image.