Combined conjugate vaccines: enhanced immunogenicity with the N19 polyepitope as a carrier protein

Infect Immun. 2005 Sep;73(9):5835-41. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.9.5835-5841.2005.

Abstract

The N19 polyepitope, consisting of a sequential string of universal human CD4(+)-T-cell epitopes, was tested as a carrier protein in a formulation of combined glycoconjugate vaccines containing the capsular polysaccharides (PSs) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y. Good antibody responses to all four polysaccharides were induced by one single immunization of mice with N19-based conjugates. Two immunizations with N19 conjugates elicited anti-MenACWY antibody titers comparable to those induced after three doses of glycoconjugates containing CRM197 as carrier protein. Compared to cross-reacting material (CRM)-based constructs, lower amounts of N19-MenACWY conjugates still induced high bactericidal titers to all four PSs. Moreover, N19-MenACWY-conjugated constructs induced faster and higher antibody avidity maturation against meningococcal C PS than CRM-based conjugates. Very importantly, N19-specific antibodies did not cross-react with the parent protein from which N19 epitopes were derived, e.g., tetanus toxoid and influenza virus hemagglutinin. Finally, T helper epitopes of the N19 carrier protein were effectively generated both in vivo (after immunization with the N19 itself) and in vitro (after restimulation of epitope-specific spleen cells). Taken together, these data show that the N19 polyepitope represents a strong and valid option for the generation of improved or new combined glycoconjugate vaccines.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
  • Bacterial Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Glycoconjugates / administration & dosage
  • Glycoconjugates / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Vaccines, Combined / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Combined / immunology
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Glycoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Vaccines, Combined
  • Vaccines, Conjugate
  • CRM197 (non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin)