A self-assembled protein nanoparticle serving as a one-shot vaccine carrier

Abstract

In this paper, we are exploring the role of an amphipathic helical peptide in mediating the self-assembly of a fusion protein into a protein nanoparticle and the application of the nanoparticle as a one-shot vaccine carrier. Out of several candidates, an amphipathic helical peptide derived from M2 protein of type A influenza virus is found to stimulate high antigenicity when fused to a fluorescent protein genetically. This fusion protein was found to form protein nanoparticle spontaneously when expressed and purified protein stimulates long-lasting antibody responses in single immunization. Through modeling peptide structure and nanoparticle assembly, we have improved this vaccine carrier in complex stability. The revised vaccine carrier is able to stimulate constant antibody titer to a heterologous antigen for at least six months in single immunization. The immune response against a heterologous antigen can be boosted further by additional immunization in spite of high immune responses to carrier protein.