Precise Assembly of Multiple Antigens on Nanoparticles with Specially Designed Affinity Peptides

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Immunology
• Vaccine Development

Background:

• Assembling multiple antigens on nanoparticles can improve immunogenicity but presents technical challenges.
• Effective antigen presentation by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is crucial for robust immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a precise method for assembling multiple antigens onto nanoparticles using specifically designed affinity peptides.
• To evaluate the immunological properties and vaccine potential of these multi-antigen display nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Designed and screened high-affinity peptides targeting specific residues on classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E2 protein and porcine circovirus type 2 capsid protein (PCV2 Cap).
• Conjugated antigen proteins to poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and Gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) nanoparticles via affinity peptides.
• Assembled two types of multi-antigen nanoparticles with varying particle sizes and assessed their immunological effects on APCs and antibody induction in mice.

Main Results:

• The assembled multi-antigen nanoparticles effectively promoted APC maturation, phagocytosis, and proinflammatory responses.
• Compared to individual antigens, the multi-antigen nanoparticles induced significantly higher levels of antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in mice.
• The developed strategy demonstrated precise assembly of multiple antigens on nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• The novel peptide-based strategy enables precise assembly of multi-antigen nanoparticles, enhancing antigen immunogenicity.
• These multi-antigen nanoparticles show promise for developing effective polyvalent vaccines against viral diseases like CSFV and PCV2.
• This method offers technical support for protein structure studies and polyvalent vaccine research.