Peptide amphiphile micelles self-adjuvant group A streptococcal vaccination

AAPS J. 2015 Mar;17(2):380-8. doi: 10.1208/s12248-014-9707-3. Epub 2014 Dec 20.

Abstract

Delivery system design and adjuvant development are crucially important areas of research for improving vaccines. Peptide amphiphile micelles are a class of biomaterials that have the unique potential to function as both vaccine delivery vehicles and self-adjuvants. In this study, peptide amphiphiles comprised of a group A streptococcus B cell antigen (J8) and a dialkyl hydrophobic moiety (diC16) were synthesized and organized into self-assembled micelles, driven by hydrophobic interactions among the alkyl tails. J8-diC16 formed cylindrical micelles with highly α-helical peptide presented on their surfaces. Both the micelle length and secondary structure were shown to be enhanced by annealing. When injected into mice, J8-diC16 micelles induced a strong IgG1 antibody response that was comparable to soluble J8 peptide supplemented with two classical adjuvants. It was discovered that micelle adjuvanticity requires the antigen be a part of the micelle since separation of J8 and the micelle was insufficient to induce an immune response. Additionally, the diC16 tail appears to be non-immunogenic since it does not stimulate a pathogen recognition receptor whose agonist (Pam3Cys) possesses a very similar chemical structure. The research presented in this paper demonstrates the promise peptide amphiphile micelles have in improving the field of vaccine engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Micelles
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / immunology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Micelles
  • Peptides
  • Streptococcal Vaccines