P64k meningococcal protein as immunological carrier for weak immunogens.
Previously, the P64k meningococcal protein, an antigen of 64 kDa expressed in Escherichia coli, has been extensively characterized. We have successfully conjugated several synthetic peptides and meningococcal group C polysaccharide to P64k. In three out of four model peptides, the murine humoral immune response against the homologous peptide, evaluated after three doses of conjugate, was higher in the animals immunized with the coupled peptide than in those that received free peptide. The fourth and largest was immunogenic by itself. Similarly, the antigroup C polysaccharide levels reached by conjugated polysaccharide were significantly higher than those produced against unconjugated polysaccharide. As a carrier for one of the peptides, P64k was compared with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and tetanus toxoid (TT), being able to induce slightly higher or similar antipeptide antibody levels than these well-establish protein carriers. Our results suggest that recombinant P64k protein could be a readily available immunological carrier, as efficient as other commonly used large carrier molecules.
Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
S
S
González
A
A
Alvarez
E
E
Caballero
L
L
Viña
G
G
Guillén
R
R
Silva
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C093542:NS4 protein, hepatitis C virus; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C112623:lpdA protein, Neisseria meningitidis; C037676:meningococcal group C polysaccharide; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine