title: Coupling Peptide Antigens to Virus-Like Particles or to Protein Carriers Influences the Th1/Th2 Polarity of the Resulting Immune Response.
abstract: We have conjugated the S9 peptide, a mimic of the group B streptococcal type III capsular polysaccharide, to different carriers in an effort to elicit an optimal immune response. As carriers, we utilized the soluble protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin and virus-like particles (VLPs) from two plant viruses, Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus and Cowpea Mosaic Virus. We have found that coupling the peptide to the soluble protein elicits a Th2 immune response, as evidenced by the production of the peptide-specific IgG1 antibody and IL-4/IL-10 production in response to antigen stimulation, whereas the peptide conjugated to VLPs elicited a Th1 response (IgG2a, IFN-γ). Because the VLPs used as carriers package RNA during the assembly process, we hypothesize that this effect may result from the presence of nucleic acid in the immunogen, which affects the Th1/Th2 polarity of the response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hadyai, Songkla 90110, Thailand. rattanaruji.p@psu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Rattanaruji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pomwised
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Bangsaen, Chonburi 20131, Thailand. uraiwani@buu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Uraiwan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Intamaso
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. mteintze@montana.edu.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teintze
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. myoung@montana.edu.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Louisianna State University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. spincu@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Seth H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pincus
keywords: Streptococcus agalactiae; antigen; capsular polysaccharide; group B streptococcus; mimotope; synthetic peptide