Immunization against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Alg-PLGA nano-vaccine

OBJECTIVE(S): Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the bacterium that causes of pulmonary infection among chronically hospitalized patients. Alginate is a common surface antigen of P. aeruginosa with a constant structure that which makes it an appropriate target for vaccines. In this study, P. aeruginosa alginate was conjugated with to PLGA nanoparticles, and its immunogenicity was characterized as a vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alginate was isolated from a mucoid strain of P. aeruginosa and conjugated with to PLGA with˝ N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride ˝= ˝EDAC˝ and N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Chemical characterization of prepared nano-vaccine was performed using FTIR Spectroscopy, Zetasizer, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The immunogenicity of this nano-vaccine was evaluated through intramuscular injection into BALB/c mice. Four groups of mice were subjected to the injection of alginate–PLGA, and two weeks after the last administration step, opsonophagocytosis assay, IgG detection, challenge, and cytokine determination via ELISA were carried out. RESULTS: Alginate-PLGA conjugation was corroborated by FTIR, Zetasizer, and AFM. The ELISA consequence showed that alginate was prospering in the instigation of the humoral immunity.The immunogenicity enhanced against the alginate-PLGA. Remarkably diminished bacterial titer in the spleen of the immunized mice posterior to challenge with PAO1 strain in comparison with the alginate alone and control groups. CONCLUSION: The bacterial burden in the spleen significantly decreased after the challenge (P<0.05). The opsonic activity was significantly increased in the alginate- PLGA group (P<0.05).