Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Liposomes as a delivery platform of vaccines against group a Streptoccocus

5^th Asia Pacific Global Summit and Expo on Vaccines & Vaccination

July 27-29, 2015 Brisbane, Australia

Khairunnisa Abdul Ghaffar1, Nirmal Marasini1, Ashwini Kumar Giddam1, Mariusz Skwarczynski1 and Istvan Toth1,2

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

For the past decade, Group A Streptoccocus (GAS) has been one of the top ten pathogens causing mortality and morbidity. Treatment with antibiotics has proven to be successful; however,c the lack of early medical attention could lead to invasive GAS infection. In addition, rheumatic heart disease, dubbed as the ?silent killer?, is the most critical sequelae of GAS, claiming more than 1 million lives each year.1 Our vaccine strategy utilizes the lipid core peptide (LCP) as a self-adjuvanting system2 in conjunction with liposomes as a delivery system. Liposomes are known for their efficacy in delivering antigens as well as for their targeting capability. Two epitopes were used, a) J14, KQAEDKVKASREAKKQVEKALEQLEDKVK, derived from the surface associated M protein of GAS; b) P25, KLIPNASLIENCTKAEL, a universal T-helper epitope. Seven different peptides (branched and linear), were synthesized using standard solid phase peptide synthesis and purified (?95%) to attain moderate to high yields (44-80%). Liposomes were formulated giving an average size of 170 nm and a zeta potential of +57 mV. All compounds had varying percentages of encapsulation efficacy ?65%. The lead vaccine candidate (liposomes encapsulating P25-K(J14)-LCP) had the highest encapsulation efficacy of 98%. Mice immunized intranasally with the lead vaccine candidate elicited the highest IgG and IgA antibody titres against J14 compared to all vaccine candidates and positive controls which included known adjuvant, cholera toxin B subunit. In addition, mice also retained high levels of serum IgG five months post final immunization. In conclusion, we prepared the first LCP-nanoliposome-based peptide vaccine candidate against GAS.

Biography :

Khairunnisa graduated with a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore in 2010. Upon graduating, she obtained a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) with Honours Class I from the University of Queensland, Australia in 2012. She is currently holding a University of Queensland International Scholarship for her postgraduate studies. During her studies, she has received various travel awards to attend workshops and conferences abroad. Currently, she is finilizing her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Istvan Toth and Dr. Mariusz Skwarczynski at the University of Queensland.