- Autores: Aline Maria Vasconcelos Queiroz, Yulia Aleksandrovna Yanshina, Emily Thays da Silva Rodrigues, Fred Luciano Neves Santos, Paola Alejandra Fiorani Celedon, Sweta Maheshwari, Sandra Beatriz Gabelli, Carla Stephanie Peucelle Rubio, Aritz Durana, Diego M.A.Guérin, Marcelo Sousa-Silva
- Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.05.039
ABSTRACT
‘Background:’
The infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi affects humans and is called as Chagas disease. Currently, the main measures available to reduce the incidence of this disease are drug treatment and vector control. Traditionally, the development of vaccines occurs mainly through the use of antigenic candidates of the etiologic agent in the form of a vaccine preparation. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are structures analogous to viral capsids composed essentially of structural proteins and are widely used in vaccination protocols because of their immunostimulatory properties. In this context, the objective of this study was to use strategies in a murine immunization model to characterize the immunostimulatory capacity of VLPs from Triatoma virus (TrV-VLPs), analysed in the presence or absence of the aluminium vaccine adjuvant. In parallel, to characterize the immunogenic behaviour of four T. cruzi chimeric recombinant proteins (mix-IBMP) associated with TrV-VLPs or aluminium vaccine adjuvant.
‘Method:’
We immunized BALB/c mice once or twice, depending on the strategy, and collected serum samples at 15, 30 and 45 days after the immunization. Subsequently, serum samples from animals immunized with TrV-VLPs were used to determine total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 anti-TrV-VLPs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
‘Results:’
Data obtained demonstrate the ability of TrV-VLPs to preferably induce IgG2b and IgG3 type antibodies in the absence of aluminium adjuvant. In fact, the use of aluminium did not interfere with the total IgG profile of anti-TrV-VLPs. Interestingly, mix-IBMP had a better profile of total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses when mixed with TrV-VLPs.
‘Conclusion:’
In conclusion, these results suggest the potential of TrV-VLPs as a vaccine adjuvant and the use of T. cruzi chimeric antigens as a rational strategy for the development of vaccines against the experimental model of Chagas disease.
HIGHLIGHTS
• VLPs from Triatoma virus are used as adjuvants for the development of vaccines in the context of Chagas disease.
• TrV-VLPs have the ability to preferentially induce IgG2b and IgG3 antibodies in murine model.
• TrV-VLPs as an adjuvant can polarize the induction of the immune response together recombinant chimeric antigens from Trypanosoma cruzi.
KEYWORDS
Virus-like particles (VLPs); Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; Adjuvant; Humoral immune response; Triatoma virus.