A multi-epitope subunit vaccine based on CU/ZN-SOD, OMP31 and BP26 against Brucella melitensis infection in BALB/C mice.

Brucellosis, a zoonosis caused by Brucella, is highly detrimental to both humans and animals. Most existing vaccines are live attenuated vaccines with safety flaws for people and animals. Therefore, it is advantageous to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine (MEV) to prevent Brucella infection. To this end, we applied a reverse vaccinology approach. Six cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitopes, seven T helper cell (HTL) epitopes, and four linear B cell epitopes from CU/ZN-SOD, Omp31, and BP26 were obtained. We linked the CTL, HTL, B-cell epitopes, the appropriate CTB molecular adjuvant, and the universal T helper lymphocyte epitope, PADRE, with linkers AAY, GPPGG, and KK, respectively. This yielded a 412-amino acid MEV construct, which we named MEVcob. The immunogenicity, stability, safety, and feasibility of the construct were evaluated by bioinformatics tools (including the AlphaFold2 prediction tool, the AlphaFold2 tool, NetMHC-I pan 4.0 server, IEDB MHC-I server, ABCpred service, and C-ImmSim server); the physicochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structures, and binding ability of MEVocb to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was analyzed. Then, codon adaptation and computer cloning studies were performed. MEVocb is highly immunogenic in immunostimulation experiments, The proteins translated by these sequences were relatively stable, exhibiting a high antigenic index. Furthermore, mouse experiments confirmed that the MEVocb construct could raise IFN-γ, IgG, IgG2a, IgG1, IL-2, TNF-α levels in mice, indicating that induced a specific humoral and cellular immune response in BALB/c mice. This vaccine induced a statistically significant level of protection in BALB/c mice when challenged with Brucella melitensis 043 in Xinjiang. Briefly, we utilized immunoinformatic tools to design a novel multi-epitope subunit candidate vaccine against Brucella. This vaccine aims to induce host immune responses and confer specific protective effects. The study results offer a theoretical foundation for the development of a novel Brucella subunit vaccine.

Biological characteristics and conjugated antigens of ClfA A-FnBPA and CP5 in Staphylococcus aureus.

To obtain immunogenic conjugate antigens, adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH), as a bridge, and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimidehydrochloride (EDAC), as a coupling agent, were used to conjugate the purified fusion protein, clumping factor A-fibronectin binding protein ClfA A-FnBPA, and type 5 capsular polysaccharide (CP5). The conjugates were mixed with an adjuvant, and mice were immunized 3 times and challenged with Staphylococcus aureus 1 week later. Antibody titers were determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At 14 days after the first immunization, antibodies against the purified protein and conjugate were detected; after 28 days, antibody levels increased; and a week after the third immunization, antibody levels continued to increase. However, the conjugate antibody titers were higher than those of the purified protein during the study, and no IgG antibodies against purified CP5 were detected during the entire experiment. The protection rate increased to 90% in the conjugate group, indicating that the conjugate imparts a relatively higher protective efficacy than the purified protein and purified CP5.

Afin d'obtenir des antigènes conjugués immunogéniques, du dihydrazide adipique acide (DHA), comme pont, et le 1-éthyl-3-(3-diméthylaminopropyl) carbodiimidehydhrochlorure (EDAC), comme agent liguant, ont été utilisés pour conjuguer la protéine de fusion purifiée ClfAA-FnBPA (facteur de coagulation A-protéine liant la fibronectine) et le polysaccharide capsulaire de type 5 (PC5). Les conjugués ont été mélangés avec un adjuvant, et des souris immunisées trois fois et soumis à une infection défi par Staphylococcus aureus 1 semaine plus tard. Les titres d'anticorps ont été déterminés par épreuve immuno-enzymatique indirecte (ELISA). Au jour 14 suivant la première immunisation, des anticorps dirigés contre la protéine purifiée et le conjugué ont été détectés; après 28 jours, les taux d'anticorps ont augmenté, et 1 semaine après la troisième immunisation, les taux d'anticorps ont continué d'augmenter. Toutefois, durant l'étude les titres d'anticorps envers le conjugué étaient supérieurs à ceux de la protéine purifiée, et aucun anticorps de type IgG dirigé contre le PC5 purifié ne fut détecté durant l'expérience entière. Le taux de protection augmenta jusqu'à 90 % dans le groupe du conjugué, indiquant que le conjugué entraîne une protection efficace supérieure à la protéine purifiée et au PC5 purifié.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).