The Immunogenicity of CRISP1 Plasmid-Based Contraceptive Vaccine can be Improved When Using Chitosan Nanoparticles as the Carrier.
To evaluate the effectiveness and security of a contraceptive vaccine using plasmid DNA encoding mouse CRISP1 as antigen and chitosan nanoparticles as the carrier.



Chitosan-pcDNA3.1-mCRISP1 Nanoparticles (CS-DNA NPs) were prepared and characterized in terms of morphology, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and binding capacity of pDNA. The cytotoxicity and gene transfer capability of CS-DNA NPs were assessed in COS-7 cells compared to Lipofectamine 2000(™) . Four groups of mice received three injections of 0.9% normal saline, pcDNA3.1 vector, pcDNA3.1-CRISP1, or CS-DNA NPs, respectively. ELISA was used to examine the immune responses. Fertility and mean litter size were analyzed by natural mating.



CS-DNA NPs have a spherical or elliptical shape with a mean diameter of 189.3 nm, positive zeta potential, and good DNA condensation. It also showed high DNAse resistance and good transfection efficiency without cell toxicity. The titers of anti-mCRISP1 antibodies from CS-DNA NP-immunized mice were significantly higher than that of pcDNA3.1-CRISP1 group. Male and female CS-DNA NP-immunized animals were recognized with a statistically significant reduction in their fertility compared with pcDNA3.1-CRISP1-immunized mice.



This study demonstrated that using chitosan-DNA nanoparticles as the carrier can improve the immunogenicity of mCRISP1 DNA contraceptive vaccine with good security.
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Jin
J
Luo
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Xue-Li
XL
Liu
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Yi
Y
Zhang
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Ya-Qin
YQ
Wang
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Wang-Ming
WM
Xu
Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Jing
J
Yang
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection; D014611:Vaccination; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA
C486321:Crisp1 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D048271:Chitosan
CRISP1; Chitosan; DNA vaccine; fertility; immunogenicity