Abstract
We have covalently conjugated an N-terminus Plasmodium vivax apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) peptide to functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNT). Immunological characterization of this molecular conjugate revealed that the immunogen-AMA-1 peptide was appropriately presented after being conjugated to CNTs as well as being recognized by BALB/c polyclonal antibodies. Subsequent experiments lead us to assess the AMA-1 peptide alone, as well as the CNT-peptide conjugate regarding rodent malarial infection. Remarkably, the peptide effectively controlled and delayed Plasmodium berghei-challenged animals' parasitaemia. The peptide-CNT conjugate displayed similar immunological properties to the peptide alone by protecting or delaying malarial infection. The peptide presentation by f-CNT to the immune system thus constitutes a promising approach for synthetic malarial vaccine formulation since the immunogen peptide conformation is well preserved.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Alleles
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
-
Blotting, Western
-
Cytokines / biosynthesis
-
Drug Delivery Systems
-
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
-
Female
-
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
-
Genes, MHC Class II / immunology
-
HLA-DR Antigens / immunology
-
HLA-DRB1 Chains
-
Malaria / immunology*
-
Malaria / therapy*
-
Malaria Vaccines / chemical synthesis
-
Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
-
Malaria Vaccines / therapeutic use*
-
Membrane Proteins / chemical synthesis
-
Membrane Proteins / immunology*
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred BALB C
-
Microscopy, Electron
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Nanotubes*
-
Plasmodium berghei / immunology*
-
Plasmodium vivax / immunology*
-
Protozoan Proteins / chemical synthesis
-
Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
-
Vaccines, Subunit / chemical synthesis
-
Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
-
Vaccines, Subunit / therapeutic use
Substances
-
Antigens, Protozoan
-
Cytokines
-
HLA-DR Antigens
-
HLA-DRB1 Chains
-
Malaria Vaccines
-
Membrane Proteins
-
Protozoan Proteins
-
Vaccines, Subunit
-
apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium