Open AccessTyrosine-Based Cross-Linking of Peptide Antigens to Generate Nanoclusters with Enhanced Immunogenicity: Demonstration Using the Conserved M2e Peptide of Influenza A
Author(s) -
Logan R. Wilks,
Gaurav Joshi,
Megan R. Grisham,
Harvinder Singh Gill
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.324
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2373-8227
DOI - 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00219
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , peptide , tyrosine , immunogenicity , chemistry , influenza a virus , cluster (spacecraft) , antigen , combinatorial chemistry , signal peptide , peptide sequence , biology , biochemistry , virology , virus , genetics , gene , computer science , organic chemistry , programming language
A method of creating nanoclusters (NCs) from soluble peptide molecules is described utilizing an approach based on a tyrosine-tyrosine cross-linking reaction. A reactive tag comprising histidine and tyrosine residues was introduced at the termini of the peptide molecules. The cross-linking reaction led to the creation of dityrosine bonds within the tag, which allowed for the generation of peptide NCs. We show that it is essential for the reactive tag to be present at both the "N" and "C" termini of the peptide for cluster formation to occur. Additionally, the cross-linking reaction was systematically characterized to show the importance of reaction conditions on final cluster diameter, allowing us to generate NCs of various sizes. To demonstrate the immunogenic potential of the peptide clusters, we chose to study the conserved influenza peptide, M2e, as the antigen. M2e NCs were formulated using the cross-linking reaction. We show the ability of the clusters to generate protective immunity in a dose, size, and frequency dependent manner against a lethal influenza A challenge in BALB/c mice. Taken together, the data presented suggest this new cluster formation technique can generate highly immunogenic peptide NCs in a simple and controllable manner.