AUTHOR=Li Yuhang , Pu Ruixue , Zhang Yi , Zhang Yiwen , Wei Yujie , Zeng Sheng , Gao Chen , Wang Ying , Yin Daijiajia , Zhang Yueyue , Wan Jiqing , Zou Quanming , Gu Jiang TITLE=Self-assembled ferritin nanoparticles displaying PcrV and OprI as an adjuvant-free Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1184863 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1184863 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=Introduction

Serious infections of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in hospitals and the emergence and increase of multidrug resistance have raised an urgent need for effective vaccines. However, no vaccine has been approved to date. One possible reason for this is the limited immune response due to the lack of an efficient delivery system. Self-assembled ferritin nanoparticles are good carriers of heterogeneous antigens, which enhance the activation of immunological responses.

Methods

In this study, two well-studied antigen candidates, PcrV and OprI, were selected and connected to the ferritin nanoparticle by the Spytag/SpyCatcher system to generate the nanovaccine rePO-FN.

Results

Compared to recombinant PcrV-OprI formulated with aluminum adjuvants, intramuscular immunization with adjuvant-free rePO-FN induced quick and efficient immunity and conferred protection against PA pneumonia in mice. In addition, intranasal immunization with adjuvant-free rePO-FN enhanced protective mucosal immunity. Moreover, rePO-FN exhibited good biocompatibility and safety.

Discussion

Our results suggest that rePO-FN is a promising vaccine candidate, as well as, provide additional evidence for the success of ferritin-based nanovaccines.