A self-aggregating peptide: implications for the development of thermostable vaccine candidates

• Published in: BMC biotechnology Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Cruz-Reséndiz, Adolfo, Zepeda-Cervantes, Jesús, Sampieri, Alicia, Bastián-Eugenio, Carlos, Acero, Gonzalo, Sánchez-Betancourt, J Iván, Gevorkian, Goar, Vaca, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.01.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Ambient temperature; Amino acids; Antigens; Biological products industry; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Centrifugation; Developing countries; Fusion protein; Immune response; Immune system; Immunization; Immunoglobulins; Immunology; Infectious diseases; LDCs; Microparticles; Microscopy; Nanoparticles; Particles; Peptides; Polyhedra; Polyhedrin; Product development; Properties; Proteins; Robustness; Self-assembling; Sucrose; Thermal stability; Thermostable; Vaccines; Viruses; Mexico; Thermostable; Immunology; Vaccines; Self-assembling; Particles
• ISSN: 1472-6750; 1472-6750
• DOI: 10.1186/s12896-019-0592-9

The use of biomaterials has been expanded to improve the characteristics of vaccines. Recently we have identified that the peptide PH from polyhedrin self-aggregates and incorporates foreign proteins to form particles. We have proposed that this peptide can be used as an antigen carrying system for vaccines. However, the immune response generated by the antigen fused to the peptide has not been fully characterized. In addition, the adjuvant effect and thermostability of the particles has not been evaluated. In the present study we demonstrate the use of a system developed to generate nano and microparticles carrying as a fusion protein peptides or proteins of interest to be used as vaccines. These particles are purified easily by centrifugation. Immunization of animals with the particles in the absence of adjuvant result in a robust and long-lasting immune response. Proteins contained inside the particles are maintained for over 1 year at ambient temperature, preserving their immunological properties. The rapid and efficient production of the particles in addition to the robust immune response they generate position this system as an excellent method for the rapid response against emerging diseases. The thermostability conferred by the particle system facilitates the distribution of the vaccines in developing countries or areas with no electricity.