Immunological evaluation of lipopeptide group A streptococcus (GAS) vaccine: structure-activity relationship

PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30146. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030146. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen responsible for a wide variety of diseases. To date, GAS vaccine development has focused primarily on the M-protein. The M-protein is highly variable at the amino (N)-terminus (determining serotype) but is conserved at the carboxyl (C)-terminus. Previously a 29 amino acid peptide (named J14) from the conserved region of the M-protein was identified as a potential vaccine candidate. J14 was capable of eliciting protective antibodies that recognized many GAS serotypes when co-administered with immuno-stimulants. This minimal epitope however showed no immunogenicity when administered alone. In an attempt overcome this immunological non-responsiveness, we developed a self-adjuvanting vaccine candidate composed of three components: the B-cell epitope (J14), a universal helper T-cell epitope (P25) and a lipid moiety consisting of lipoamino acids (Laas) which target Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Immunological evaluation in B10.BR (H-2k) mice demonstrated that the epitope attachment to the point of lipid moiety, and the length of the Laa alkyl chain have a profound effect on vaccine immunogenicity after intranasal administration. It was demonstrated that a vaccine featuring C-terminal lipid moiety containing alkyl chains of 16 carbons, with P25 located at the N-terminus, and J14 attached to the side chain of a central lysine residue was capable of inducing optimal antibody response. These findings have considerable relevance to the development of a broad spectrum J14-based GAS vaccine and in particular provided a rational basis for peptide vaccine design based on this self-adjuvanting lipopeptide technology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Lipopeptides / chemistry
  • Lipopeptides / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / chemistry*
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology

Substances

  • CBX5 protein, human
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lipopeptides
  • Streptococcal Vaccines
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5