Development of probiotic-based immunoparticles for pulmonary immunization against Hepatitis B

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Immunology
• Vaccine Development

Background:

• Hepatitis B poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative vaccine strategies.
• Pulmonary vaccine delivery offers a non-invasive alternative to traditional injection methods.
• Probiotics are being explored for their potential as vaccine adjuvants and delivery vehicles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a pulmonary vaccine for Hepatitis B utilizing probiotic biomass as an adjuvant.
• To evaluate the efficacy of probiotic biomass in protecting vaccine antigen integrity.
• To assess the immunomodulatory effects and mucosal immune response of the developed vaccine.

Main Methods:

• Hepatitis B antigen was spray-dried with live, heat-treated, and formalin-treated probiotic biomass.
• Antigenicity and structural integrity were assessed using various analytical techniques.
• In-vivo immune responses, including Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) titers, were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Probiotic biomass effectively protected the antigen's structural integrity, retaining over 80% antigenicity without cryoprotectants.
• Live probiotic biomass yielded spherical particles, while treated biomass resulted in irregular shapes.
• The vaccine formulation demonstrated comparable IgG titers to marketed vaccines and significantly higher sIgA titers, indicating superior mucosal immunity.

Conclusions:

• Probiotic biomass serves as a viable cryoprotectant for vaccine antigens.
• Probiotic biomass acts as a potent immunomodulator, enhancing mucosal immune responses.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for developing effective pulmonary vaccines for Hepatitis B.