Immunological profile of a Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 N-terminus peptide-carbon nanotube conjugate in an infected Plasmodium berghei mouse model

Vaccine. 2008 Oct 29;26(46):5864-73. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.08.014. Epub 2008 Sep 2.

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