Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is the leading cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoma. Due to the emerging problems with antibiotic treatment against <i>H. pylori</i> in clinical p...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Rita Amaral Tomás Concha Jorge Vítor António J. Almeida Cecília Calado Lídia M. Gonçalves |
| author_facet | Rita Amaral Tomás Concha Jorge Vítor António J. Almeida Cecília Calado Lídia M. Gonçalves |
| author_sort | Rita Amaral |
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| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is the leading cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoma. Due to the emerging problems with antibiotic treatment against <i>H. pylori</i> in clinical practice, <i>H. pylori</i> vaccination has gained more interest. Oral immunization is considered a promising approach for preventing initial colonization of this bacterium in the gastrointestinal tract, establishing a first line of defense at gastric mucosal surfaces. Chitosan nanoparticles can be exploited effectively for oral vaccine delivery due to their stability, simplicity of target accessibility, and beneficial mucoadhesive and immunogenic properties. <b>Methods</b>: In this study, new multi-epitope pDNA- and recombinant protein-based vaccines incorporating multiple <i>H. pylori</i> antigens were produced and encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles for oral and intramuscular administration. The induced immune response was assessed through the levels of antigen-specific IgGs, secreted mucosal SIgA, and cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ) in immunized BALB/C mice. <b>Results</b>: Intramuscular administration of both pDNA and recombinant protein-based vaccines efficiently stimulated the production of specific IgG2a and IgG1, which was supported by cytokines levels. Oral immunizations with either pDNA or recombinant protein vaccines revealed high SIgA levels, suggesting effective gastric mucosal immunization, contrasting with intramuscular immunizations, which did not induce SIgA. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that both pDNA and recombinant protein vaccines encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles are promising candidates for eradicating <i>H. pylori</i> and mitigating associated gastric diseases in humans. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e1b506fe7c34f969bb8d5b150285936 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e1b506fe7c34f969bb8d5b1502859362025-01-24T13:46:05ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-01-0117113210.3390/pharmaceutics17010132Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse ModelRita Amaral0Tomás Concha1Jorge Vítor2António J. Almeida3Cecília Calado4Lídia M. Gonçalves5Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, PortugalResearch Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, PortugalResearch Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, PortugalResearch Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, PortugalISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, PortugalResearch Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal<b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is the leading cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoma. Due to the emerging problems with antibiotic treatment against <i>H. pylori</i> in clinical practice, <i>H. pylori</i> vaccination has gained more interest. Oral immunization is considered a promising approach for preventing initial colonization of this bacterium in the gastrointestinal tract, establishing a first line of defense at gastric mucosal surfaces. Chitosan nanoparticles can be exploited effectively for oral vaccine delivery due to their stability, simplicity of target accessibility, and beneficial mucoadhesive and immunogenic properties. <b>Methods</b>: In this study, new multi-epitope pDNA- and recombinant protein-based vaccines incorporating multiple <i>H. pylori</i> antigens were produced and encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles for oral and intramuscular administration. The induced immune response was assessed through the levels of antigen-specific IgGs, secreted mucosal SIgA, and cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ) in immunized BALB/C mice. <b>Results</b>: Intramuscular administration of both pDNA and recombinant protein-based vaccines efficiently stimulated the production of specific IgG2a and IgG1, which was supported by cytokines levels. Oral immunizations with either pDNA or recombinant protein vaccines revealed high SIgA levels, suggesting effective gastric mucosal immunization, contrasting with intramuscular immunizations, which did not induce SIgA. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that both pDNA and recombinant protein vaccines encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles are promising candidates for eradicating <i>H. pylori</i> and mitigating associated gastric diseases in humans.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/1/132<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>vaccineDNA vaccineimmunizationrecombinant antigens |
| spellingShingle | Rita Amaral Tomás Concha Jorge Vítor António J. Almeida Cecília Calado Lídia M. Gonçalves Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model Pharmaceutics <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> vaccine DNA vaccine immunization recombinant antigens |
| title | Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model |
| title_full | Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model |
| title_fullStr | Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model |
| title_short | Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Immune Response and Delivery of Multi-Epitope <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Vaccines in a BALB/c Mouse Model |
| title_sort | chitosan nanoparticles for enhanced immune response and delivery of multi epitope i helicobacter pylori i vaccines in a balb c mouse model |
| topic | <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> vaccine DNA vaccine immunization recombinant antigens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/1/132 |
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