title: Immunological profile of a Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 N-terminus peptide-carbon nanotube conjugate in an infected Plasmodium berghei mouse model.
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.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Nubia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yandar
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastorin
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Manuel Elkin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Patarroyo
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lozano
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D043942:Nanotubes; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; C090077:apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium