Intranasal vaccination with SfbI or M protein-derived peptides conjugated to diphtheria toxoid confers protective immunity against a lethal challenge with Streptococcus pyogenes

Vaccine. 2006 Aug 28;24(35-36):6088-95. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.024. Epub 2006 Jun 2.

Abstract

We investigated whether intranasal immunisation with diphtheria toxoid (DT) conjugated polypeptides encompassing T and B cell epitopes of the SfbI protein (FNBR) or a conformational-constrained B cell epitope of the M1 protein (J8) was able to confer protection against lethal mucosal challenge with a heterologous Streptococcus pyogenes strain. To this end, BALB/c mice were immunised with the conjugates. Strong antigen-specific antibody responses were observed in both serum and mucosal secretions. Vaccinated mice were challenged 10 days after the last boost by the intranasal route. Animals receiving FNBR-DT co-administered with either the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) or the TLR 2/6 agonist MALP-2 were efficiently protected against the virulent S. pyogenes strain (90% and 70% survival, respectively), whereas those immunised with J8-DT plus either CTB or MALP-2 showed intermediate levels of protection (60% and 40%, respectively). The obtained results indicate that in our experimental animal model peptide-based conjugate vaccines represent a valid alternative to protect against streptococcal infection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Antibody Formation
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Cholera Toxin
  • Diphtheria Toxoid
  • Female
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mucus / chemistry
  • Serum / chemistry
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6 / agonists
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Subunit / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Diphtheria Toxoid
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Cholera Toxin