A Supramolecular Vaccine Platform Based on α-Helical Peptide Nanofibers

• 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
• Journal Title: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
• Volume: Volume 3, Number 12
• Publisher: American Chemical Society | 2017-12-11, Pages 3128-3132
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00561
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical; Biology, Neuroscience; Chemistry, Biochemistry
• Keywords: supramolecular peptide vaccine system; epitope-bearing peptide; nanofibers; alpha-helical structure; antigen presenting cell

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.