Novel polypeptide-comprising biopolymer systems

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mustafaev, M.I. | Mustafaeva, Z.

Affiliations: Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, TÜBİTAK, Marmara Research Center, P.O. Box: 21, 41470 Gebze, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract: Covalent bioconjugation between anionic polyelecrolytes and polypeptide antigens chemically synthesized by solid-phase chemistry, were studied in hydrated reversed micelle systems. The epitops of Foot-and-Mouse disease virus VP1 protein (40–60 and 135–160 residues) were used as polypeptide antigens. The polypeptide-comprising Biopolymer Systems were obtained by two methods: 1) Inclusion of peptides into electrostatic polyelectrolyte complexes of polycations with proteins, 2) Inclusion of peptides into Cu+2 – induced polyelectrolyte complexes of polyanions with similarly (anionic) charged proteins. The immunogenetic properties of polymer-peptide conjugates and peptide-comprising Biopolymer Systems were investigated and the specifity of antibodies produced was analyzed. Polymer-Peptide conjugates, as well as peptide-comprising Biopolymer Systems appeared to possess a high peptide specific immunogenecity even without the addition of traditional adjuvants. It was found that PE-BSA·FMD·Ag conjugates conferred effective immunoprotection against Foot-and-Mouth disease virus.

DOI: 10.3233/THC-2002-103-407

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 217-226, 2002