title: Evaluation of various adjuvant nanoparticulate formulations for meningococcal capsular polysaccharide-based vaccine.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis and its capsular polysaccharides (CPS) are a major virulence factor in meningococcal infections and form the basis for serogroup designation and preventive vaccines. We have formulated a novel meningococcal nanoparticulate vaccine formulation that does not require chemical conjugation, but encapsulates meningococcal CPS polymers in a biodegradable material that slowly release antigens, thereby has antigen depot effect to enhance antigenicity. The novel vaccine formulation is inexpensive and can be stored as a dry powder with extended shelf life that does not require the cold-chain which facilitates storage and distribution. In order to enhance the antigenicity of meningococcal nanoparticulate vaccine, we screened various adjuvants formulated in nanoparticles, for their ability to potentiate antigen presentation by dendritic cells. Here, we report that MF59 and Alum are superior to TLR-based adjuvants in enhancing dendritic cell maturation and antigen presentation markers MHC I, MHC II, CD40, CD80 and CD86 in dendritic cells pulsed with meningococcal CPS nanoparticulate vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Rikhav P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gala
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: dsouza_mj@mercer.edu.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: szughai@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Susu M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zughaier
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002460:Cell Line; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000737:chemistry; D013185:Squalene / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; C089950:MF59 oil emulsion; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011136:Polysorbates; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D013185:Squalene
keywords: Adjuvants; Antigen presentation; CD40; CD80; CD86; Co-stimulatory molecules; Dendritic cell; Nanoparticulate vaccine; Neisseria meningitidis