Decoration of Burkholderia Hcp1 protein to virus-like particles as a vaccine delivery platform

• Published in: Infection and immunity 2024-03, Vol.92 (3), p.e0001924
• Main Authors: Khakhum, Nittaya, Baruch-Torres, Noe, Stockton, Jacob L, Chapartegui-González, Itziar, Badten, Alexander J, Adam, Awadalkareem, Wang, Tian, Huerta-Saquero, Alejandro, Yin, Y Whitney, Torres, Alfredo G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Burkholderia; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Hemolysin Proteins; Immunoglobulin G; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microbial Immunity and Vaccines; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0019-9567; 1098-5522; 1098-5522
• DOI: 10.1128/iai.00019-24

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are protein-based nanoparticles frequently used as carriers in conjugate vaccine platforms. VLPs have been used to display foreign antigens for vaccination and to deliver immunotherapy against diseases. Hemolysin-coregulated proteins 1 (Hcp1) is a protein component of the type 6 secretion system, which participates in intracellular invasion and dissemination. This protein has been reported as a protective antigen and is used in multiple vaccine candidates with various platforms against melioidosis, a severe infectious disease caused by the intracellular pathogen . In this study, we used P22 VLPs as a surface platform for decoration with Hcp1 using chemical conjugation. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally immunized with three doses of either PBS, VLPs, or conjugated Hcp1-VLPs. Immunization with Hcp1-VLPs formulation induced Hcp1-specific IgG, IgG , IgG , and IgA antibody responses. Furthermore, the serum from Hcp1-VLPs immunized mice enhanced the bacterial uptake and opsonophagocytosis by macrophages in the presence of complement. This study demonstrated an alternative strategy to develop a VLPs-based vaccine platform against species.