Development of a novel pneumococcal vaccine with iron oxide nanoparticle for mucosal immunity

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K10013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ishii Keiko 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (00291253)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 新規肺炎球菌ワクチン / ユニバーサルワクチン / 酸化鉄ナノ粒子 / アジュバント / 感染防御効果

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We constructed a novel pneumococcal vaccine, PspA-IONP, consisted of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) with a novel technique. Intratracheal immunization of mice with PspA-IONP induced high levels of systemic PspA-specific IgG antibody than with PspA alone and mucosal PspA-specific IgA antibody that was not detected with PspA alone. When the PspA-IONP-immunized mice were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacterial proliferation was suppressed, and survival was markedly improved. These results suggest the availability of PspA-IONP as a mucosal immunity-inducing pneumococcal vaccine.

Free Research Field

感染免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現行の肺炎球菌ワクチンは一部の血清型の菌に有効であるが、ワクチンに含まれない血清型の菌が増加する「血清型置換」の解決が課題となっている。本研究では、すべての血清型の菌に存在するpneumococcal surface protein A（PspA）を酸化鉄ナノ粒子（iron oxide nanoparticle: IONP）に独自の方法で結合させたPspA-IONP を作成し、マウスでその効果を実証した。IONPは吸入用ドライパウダー製剤化を目指したアジュバントであり、他のワクチンにも応用可能である。