Lipopeptide-Based Oral Vaccine Against Hookworm Infection.

<bold>Background: </bold>The human hookworm, Necator americanus, is a parasite that infects almost half a billion people worldwide. Although treatment is available, vaccination is favorable to combat the spread of this parasite due to its wide distribution and continuous reinfection cycle in endemic communities.<bold>Methods: </bold>We have designed a lipopeptide oral delivery system using a B-cell epitope derived from the aspartic protease Na-APR-1 from N americanus, attached to a T-helper epitope. Lipopeptides were self-assembled into nanoparticles or entrapped in liposomes that were electrostatically coated with alginate and trimethyl chitosan polymer shields. The adjuvant-free vaccine candidates were orally administered to mice and generated a humoral immune response against both peptide antigen, and the parent protein in the hookworm gut.<bold>Results: </bold>The vaccine candidates were evaluated in a rodent hookworm challenge model, resulting in up to 98% and 99% decreases in mean intestinal worm and egg burdens in immunized mice, respectively.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Lipopeptide survived the gastrointestinal conditions, induced humoral immune responses and drived protection against parasite challenge infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]