Nucleocapsid-like particles of dengue-2 virus enhance the immune response against a recombinant protein of dengue-4 virus.
In this study, we evaluate in mice a novel formulation containing nucleocapsid-like particles of dengue-2 virus (recNLP) co-immunized with a chimeric protein composed of the dengue-4 envelope domain III fused twice within the meningococcal P64k protein of Neisseria meningitidis (PD24). The animals receiving the PD24-recNLP mixture showed the highest levels of antiviral antibodies. Similar results were obtained for IFNγ secretion levels, indicating a functional Th1 cellular response. Consistently, the percentage of mice surviving after viral challenge was significantly higher for those immunized with the mixture than for those inoculated with PD24 protein alone. In addition, in vivo depletion experiments demonstrated the decisive role of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells in the protection conferred by immunization with PD24-recNLP. In conclusion, this report demonstrates for the first time the adjuvant capacity of dengue-2 virus recNLP. Additionally, the evidence presented highlights the potential of these particles for enhancing the immune response against heterologous recombinant proteins.
Lazo
Laura
L
Vaccine Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana 6, Cuba. laura.lazo@cigb.edu.cu
Gil
Lázaro
L
Lopez
Carlos
C
Valdes
Iris
I
Marcos
Ernesto
E
Alvarez
Mayling
M
Blanco
Aracelys
A
Romero
Yaremis
Y
Falcon
Viviana
V
Guzmán
María G
MG
Guillén
Gerardo
G
Hermida
Lisset
L
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053059:Dengue Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019251:Nucleocapsid / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D053059:Dengue Vaccines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C112623:lpdA protein, Neisseria meningitidis; D007371:Interferon-gamma