A Supramolecular Vaccine Platform Based on α-Helical Peptide Nanofibers

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yaoying Wu, Duke University; Pamela K. Norberg, Duke University; Elizabeth A. Reap, Duke University; Kendra L. Congdon, Duke University; Chelsea N. Fries, Duke University; Sean Kelly, Emory University; John H. Sampson, Duke University; Vincent Conticello, Emory University; Joel H. Collier, Duke University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-12-11
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 American Chemical Society.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00561
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
• ISSN: 2373-9878
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 12
• Start Page: 3128
• End Page: 3132
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIBIB 7R01EB009701; NIAID 5R01AI118182).
• Keywords: alpha-helical structure; nanofibers; supramolecular peptide vaccine system; epitope-bearing peptide; antigen presenting cell
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Chemistry, Biochemistry; Engineering, Biomedical

Abstract

A supramolecular peptide vaccine system was designed in which epitope-bearing peptides self-assemble into elongated nanofibers composed almost entirely of α-helical structure. The nanofibers were readily internalized by antigen presenting cells and produced robust antibody, CD4+ T-cell, and CD8+ T-cell responses without supplemental adjuvants in mice. Epitopes studied included a cancer B-cell epitope from the epidermal growth factor receptor class III variant (EGFRvIII), the universal CD4+ T-cell epitope PADRE, and the model CD8+ T-cell epitope SIINFEKL, each of which could be incorporated into supramolecular multiepitope nanofibers in a modular fashion.