CRX-527 as a candidate adjuvant in a recombinant BCG-based malaria vaccine

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of CRX-527, a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist, as the possible adjuvant for recombinant Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin expressing merozoite surface protein 1C (BCG-MSP-1C). Methods: The mice were immunized with BCG and BCG-MSP-1C in the presence and absence of CRX-527. The untreated mice (injected with PBS-T80 only) were the negative control. The ability of CRX-527 to enhance IgG and its subclasses, as well as IL-4 and IFN-γ production in the serum and spleen supernatant was evaluated using ELISA. Results: Mice immunized with BCG-MSP-1C exhibited the highest production of IgGs, IL-4 and IFN-γ after third immunization. In addition, CRX-527 further promoted the production of total IgG and IgG subclasses as well as IFN-γ and IL-4 in the serum and splenocytes of immunized mice. Conclusions: CRX-527 has the potential as an adjuvant candidate for the candidate vaccines. Further study is needed to verify appropriate dosage for immunization and its efficacy.

Keywords

CRX-527 / BCG / BCG-MSP-1C / TLR-4 agonists / Cytokine / IgG / Malaria

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme with Project Code: FRGS/1/2021/SKK06/USM/002/4.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request.

Authors’ contributions

Both NMZ and RS were responsible for the conception, study design, and content. NMZ performed the experimental studies, data acquisition, data analysis and statistical analysis. RS was the guarantor for this article. The first draft of the manuscript was written by NMZ, MAA and RS. The previous version and revised version of the manuscript were commented by NMZ, RS and MAA. Final manuscript was read and approved by NMZ, MAA and RS.

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