A preliminary study on the application of PspA as a carrier for group A meningococcal polysaccharide

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218427
• Publication Date: 2019-07-10T17:31:31Z
• Authors: Lichan Wang; Yajun Tan; Chen Wei; Huajie Zhang; Peng Luo; Shumin Zhang; Xiao Ma
• Keywords: Conjugate

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) as a carrier protein. Three recombinant proteins from three different clades were expressed by prokaryotic expression system and conjugated group meningococcal polysaccharide (GAMP) generate polysaccharide-protein conjugates. The conjugates, unconjugated proteins, GAMP, GAMP-TT vaccine bulk (used positive control) immunized into mice, their immune effects assessed methods enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry (FCM), serum bactericidal (SBA). results showed that conjugates could produce higher levels anti-GAMP IgG titers (P < 0.05), ratios Th1/Th2 activity compared with GAMP. conjugation PspAs GAMP also enhanced anti-PspA responses except for PspA3. In conclusion, indicated appropriate demonstrated characteristics T-cell dependent might protect against epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.