Tech Snapshot Bacterial Lipid 26 24920

Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation

Technology Snapshot
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Bacterial Lipid
Nanodiscs Platform
Value Proposition
The Bacterial Lipid Nanodiscs Platform developed
by Los Alamos National Laboratory provides a
new way to study entire bacterial membranes in a
controlled, nanoscale format derived directly from
native lipid extracts. The platform offers a safer
alternative to handling live high risk pathogens
while preserving the biological context that
drives meaningful insights for vaccine design
and antimicrobial discovery such as therapeutic
antibodies to conserved lipids on bacterial
membranes.

Technology Readiness Level 3
IP Information for S-191192

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the heterogeneous lipid population. The process yields
nanoparticles that represent the membrane environment
of the source organism, including amphiphilic molecules that typically resist purification or structural study when isolated from their native context.
The approach was demonstrated using Yersinia pestis,
chosen to illustrate how membrane characterization can
proceed without the hazards associated with live Tier 1 pathogens. The method captures lipopolysaccharides
(LPS) and diverse immunogenic lipids in an arrangement
that mirrors their natural organization. Researchers
can evaluate binding interactions, immune stimulating
properties and potential antigenic targets in a stable
platform that avoids the limitations of outer membrane
vesicle purification. Furthermore, using this platform
we have identified antibodies specific to E. coli LPS
and Y. pestis membrane lipids. These antibodies are
independently licensable.

U.S. Patent pending

Advantages

Contact Information

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[email protected]
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Overview
The Bacterial Lipid Nanodiscs Platform creates uniform
nanoscale discs from total lipid extracts harvested
from bacterial membranes. Membrane scaffold protein
MSP1D1 encases the lipid mixture and forms a stable disc roughly 10 nanometers wide. The resulting particles retain the full complement of native bacterial lipids, arranged in a membrane like environment that supports realistic
biological interactions without requiring synthetic lipids or live cells.

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Market Applications
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Technology Description
The method adapts established nanodisc assembly
techniques to incorporate entire bacterial lipid extracts