Studies of peptide mimicry of the group B Streptococcus type III capsular polysaccharide antigen

Abstract

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Streptococcus group B (GBS) is a poor immunogen and functions as T cell independent antigen, eliciting low IgG antibody with deficient immunologic memory. We previously identified a peptide, S9, which mimics CPS of type III GBS. Here we have taken steps to develop the mimetic peptide as a vaccine against GBS group III. We enhanced the immunogenicity of the peptide by presenting it on the coat protein of Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV). And we searched for better mimetic peptides by constructing a secondary phage display library. To accomplish the first goal, DNA encoding S9 was cloned into five constructions CCMV coat protein loops using recombinant DNA techniques. The results indicated that inserting the S9 peptide sequence into CCMV coat protein loops disrupted virus and virus-like particle assembly. Therefore the S9 peptide was conjugated to CCMV coat protein using chemical linkers. The CCMV-S9 conjugation products remained intact as monomer virions.