No abstract

Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi-caused infection, if not recognized and appropriately treated by antibiotics, may lead to chronic complications, thus stressing the need for protective vaccine development. The immune protection is mediated by phagocytic cells and by Borrelia-specific complement-activating antibodies, associated with the Th1 immune response. Surface antigen OspC is involved in Borrelia spreading through the host body. Previously we reported that recombinant histidine tagged (His-tag) OspC (rOspC) could be attached onto liposome surfaces by metallochelation. Here we report that levels of OspC-specific antibodies vary substantially depending upon whether rOspC possesses an N' or C' terminal His-tag. This is the case in mice immunized: (a) with rOspC proteoliposomes containing adjuvants MPLA or non-pyrogenic MDP analogue MT06; (b) with free rOspC and Montanide PET GEL A; (c) with free rOspC and alum; or (d) with adjuvant-free rOspC. Stronger responses are noted with all N'-terminal His-tag rOspC formulations. OspC-specific Th1-type antibodies predominate post-immunization with rOspC proteoliposomes formulated with MPLA or MT06 adjuvants. Further analyses confirmed that the structural features of soluble N' and C' terminal His-tag rOspC and respective rOspC proteoliposomes are similar including their thermal stabilities at physiological temperatures. On the other hand, a change in the position of the rOspC His-tag from N' to C' terminal appears to affect substantially the immunogenicity of rOspC arguably due to steric hindrance of OspC epitopes by the C' terminal His-tag itself and not due to differences in overall conformations induced by changes in the His-tag position in rOspC variants.

Liposomal formulations of new lipophilic derivatives of norAbuMDP/GMDP proved themselves as promising adjuvants for recombinant vaccines as well as immunomodulators for stimulation of innate immunity and bone-marrow recovery after chemo/radio therapy of cancer.

Fatty acyl analogues of muramyldipeptide (MDP) (abbreviated N-L18 norAbuGMDP, N-B30 norAbuGMDP, norAbuMDP-Lys(L18), norAbuMDP-Lys(B30), norAbuGMDP-Lys(L18), norAbuGMDP-Lys(B30), B30 norAbuMDP, L18 norAbuMDP) are designed and synthesized comprising the normuramyl-l-α-aminobutanoyl (norAbu) structural moiety. All new analogues show depressed pyrogenicity in both free (micellar) state and in liposomal formulations when tested in rabbits in vivo (sc and iv application). New analogues are also shown to be selective activators of NOD2 and NLRP3 (inflammasome) in vitro but not NOD1. Potencies of NOD2 and NLRP3 stimulation are found comparable with free MDP and other positive controls. Analogues are also demonstrated to be effective in stimulating cellular proliferation when the sera from mice are injected sc with individual liposome-loaded analogues, causing proliferation of bone marrow-derived GM-progenitors cells. Importantly, vaccination nanoparticles prepared from metallochelation liposomes, His-tagged antigen rOspA from Borrelia burgdorferi, and lipophilic analogue norAbuMDP-Lys(B30) as adjuvant, are shown to provoke OspA-specific antibody responses with a strong Th1-bias (dominance of IgG2a response). In contrast, the adjuvant effects of Alum or parent MDP show a strong Th2-bias (dominance of IgG1 response).

New synthetic aminoxy lipids are designed and synthesized as building blocks for the formulation of functionalized nanoliposomes by microfluidization using a NanoAssemblr. Orthogonal binding of hyaluronic acid onto the outer surface of functionalized nanoliposomes via aminoxy coupling ( N-oxy ligation) is achieved at hemiacetal function of hyaluronic acid and the structure of hyaluronic acid-liposomes is visualized by transmission electron microscopy and cryotransmission electron microscopy. Observed structures are in a good correlation with data obtained by dynamic light scattering (size and ζ-potential). In vitro experiments on cell lines expressing CD44 receptors demonstrate selective internalization of fluorochrome-labeled hyaluronic acid-liposomes, while cells with down regulated CD44 receptor levels exhibit very low internalization of hyaluronic acid-liposomes. A method based on microfluidization mixing was developed for preparation of monodispersive unilamellar liposomes containing aminoxy lipids and orthogonal binding of hyaluronic acid onto the liposomal surface was demonstrated. These hyaluronic acid-liposomes represent a potentially new drug delivery platform for CD44-targeted anticancer drugs as well as for immunotherapeutics and vaccines.