Self-adjuvanting polyacrylic nanoparticulate delivery system for group A streptococcus (GAS) vaccine

Infection with Streptococcus pyogenes, commonly known as group A Streptococcus (GAS), is responsible for acute and postinfectious complications, including rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). RHD is a global health burden, and Australia's indigenous population has one of the highest incidences of RHD worldwide. A potential peptide (J14) vaccine candidate has been previously identified from the C-terminal region of the M protein. However, such peptide-based vaccine development is hampered by a lack of carriers and adjuvants suitable for humans use. We have developed a fully synthetic peptide subunit vaccine candidate based on polyacrylate dendritic polymer. Intranasal administration of this nanoparticulate construct without additional adjuvant induced J14-specific IgG, which was also capable of in vitro opsonization of GAS, highlighting the potential of self-adjuvanting polyacrylate nanoparticle-based construct as a peptide vaccine delivery platform that may afford promising opportunities for treating systemic GAS infection. From the Clinical Editor: Polyacrylate dendrimers offer a unique approach to a nasally administered vaccine for addressing rheumatic heart disease. This paper describes the delivery of the J14 peptide, a C-terminal derivative of M-protein in group A Streptococcus.