title: Conjugation of Y. pestis F1-antigen to gold nanoparticles improves immunogenicity.
abstract: The efficacy of 15 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated with Yersinia pestis F1-antigen, as an immunogen in mice, has been assessed. The nanoparticles were decorated with F1-antigen using N-hydroxysuccinimide and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride coupling chemistry. Mice given AuNP-F1 in alhydrogel generated the greatest IgG antibody response to F1-antigen when compared with mice given AuNP-F1 in PBS or given unconjugated F1-antigen in PBS or alhydrogel. Compared with unconjugated F1-antigen, the IgG2a response was enhanced in mice dosed with AuNP-F1 in PBS (p<0.05) but not in mice immunised with AuNP-F1 in alhydrogel. All treatment groups developed a memory response to F1-antigen, the polarity of which was inflenced by formulation in alhydrogel. The sera raised against F1-antigen coupled to AuNPs was able to competitively bind to rF1-antigen, displacing protective macaque sera.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QD, UK.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Titball
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010931:Plague Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010931:Plague Vaccine; C086725:caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis; D006046:Gold