Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by vault nanoparticles expressing a chlamydial epitope.

ABSTRACT: The full potential of vaccines relies on development of effective delivery systems and adjuvants and is critical for development of successful vaccine candidates. We have shown that recombinant vaults engineered to encapsulate microbial epitopes are highly stable structures and are an ideal vaccine vehicle for epitope delivery which does not require the inclusion of an adjuvant. We studied the ability of vaults which were engineered for use as a vaccine containing an immunogenic epitope of Chlamydia trachomatis, polymorphic membrane protein G (PmpG), to be internalized into human monocytes and behave as a "natural adjuvant". We here show that incubation of monocytes with the PmpG-1-vaults activates caspase-1 and stimulates IL-1β secretion through a process requiring the NLRP3 inflammasome

SUBMITTER: Zhu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4272900 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature