Improved Humoral Immunity and Protection Against Influenza Virus Infection With a 3D Porous Biomaterial Vaccine
September 2023
in “
Advanced science
”
Studysummary Researchers demonstrated that a new vaccine platform using antigen-loaded hydrogels enhanced humoral immune responses in mice, producing stronger antigen-specific antibody levels compared to the conventional adjuvant Alum, and offering promising protective capabilities against influenza virus.
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The study investigates the efficacy of a 3D porous biomaterial vaccine (MAP) in enhancing humoral immunity and protection against influenza virus infection in C57BL/6J mice. The MAP gels, which are injectable and form a porous scaffold, sustained antigen delivery and provided proper immune activation signals. By increasing the stiffness of the hydrogel, greater T follicular helper (Tfh) cell expansion, prolonged germinal center (GC) B cell development, and enhanced high-affinity antibody responses were observed. Compared to traditional aluminum hydroxide-based adjuvants, the MAP vaccine induced higher antigen-specific IgG1 antibody levels and stronger Tfh and GC B cell responses, resulting in superior protection against influenza infection. Mice immunized with the MAP formulation showed minimal weight loss and higher survival rates, suggesting that the VaxMAP platform could be a versatile and effective alternative for various vaccine applications.
