Group A Streptococcal vaccine candidate: contribution of epitope to size, antigen presenting cell interaction and...

Utilize lipopeptide vaccine delivery system to develop a vaccine candidate against Group A Streptococcus.

Lipopeptides synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis-bearing carboxyl (C)-terminal and amino (N)-terminal Group A Streptococcus peptide epitopes. Nanoparticles formed were evaluated in vivo.

Immune responses were induced in mice without additional adjuvant. We demonstrated for the first time that incorporation of the C-terminal epitope significantly enhanced the N-terminal epitope-specific antibody response and correlated with forming smaller nanoparticles. Antigen-presenting cells had increased uptake and maturation by smaller, more immunogenic nanoparticles. Antibodies raised by vaccination recognized isolates.

Demonstrated the lipopeptidic nanoparticles to induce an immune response which can be influenced by the combined effect of epitope choice and size.