N19 polyepitope as a carrier for enhanced immunogenicity and protective efficacy of meningococcal conjugate vaccines.
N19, a string of human universal CD4 T-cell epitopes from various pathogen-derived antigens, was shown to exert a stronger carrier effect than CRM197 for the induction of anti-group C Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharide (MenC), after immunization of mice with various dosages of N19-MenC or CRM-MenC conjugate vaccines. After two immunizations, the N19-based construct induced anti-MenC antibody and protective bactericidal antibody titers higher than those induced by three doses of the CRM-MenC conjugate and required lower amounts of conjugate. N19-based conjugates are superior to CRM-based conjugates to induce protective immune responses to MenC conjugates.
Research Center, Chiron Vaccines, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Karin
K
Baraldo
Elena
E
Mori
Antonella
A
Bartoloni
Roberto
R
Petracca
Aldo
A
Giannozzi
Francesco
F
Norelli
Rino
R
Rappuoli
Guido
G
Grandi
Giuseppe
G
Del Giudice
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; C028581:CRM197 (non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin)