title: Group A Streptococcal vaccine candidate: contribution of epitope to size, antigen presenting cell interaction and immunogenicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Utilize lipopeptide vaccine delivery system to develop a vaccine candidate against Group A Streptococcus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipopeptides synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis-bearing carboxyl (C)-terminal and amino (N)-terminal Group A Streptococcus peptide epitopes. Nanoparticles formed were evaluated in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immune responses were induced in mice without additional adjuvant. We demonstrated for the first time that incorporation of the C-terminal epitope significantly enhanced the N-terminal epitope-specific antibody response and correlated with forming smaller nanoparticles. Antigen-presenting cells had increased uptake and maturation by smaller, more immunogenic nanoparticles. Antibodies raised by vaccination recognized isolates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demonstrated the lipopeptidic nanoparticles to induce an immune response which can be influenced by the combined effect of epitope choice and size.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: Mehfuz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Saranya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandrudu
authors.forename: Ashwini K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Giddam
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reiman
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skwarczynski
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McPhun
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Batzloff
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D055261:Immunogenetic Phenomena; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D055666:Lipopeptides; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines
keywords: Group A Streptococcus; lipopeptide; peptide epitope; self-adjuvanting vaccine; self-assembled nanoparticles