A biomimetic nanoparticle-enabled toxoid vaccine against melittin

Abstract

BackgroundMelittin, the main active peptide ingredient of bee venom, can cause severe cell membrane lysis due to its robust interaction with negatively charged phospholipids. So far, no effective anti-melittin vaccine has been developed to protect people from undesired melittin intoxication.MethodsHerein, we prepared a polydiacetylene (PDA) nanoparticle with cell membrane-mimic surface to complex melittin, forming an anti-melittin vaccine (PDA–melittin).ResultsPDA nanoparticles could effectively combine with melittin and neutralize its toxicity. PDA–melittin nanocomplex is demonstrated to enhance melittin uptake by DCs and stimulate strong melittin-specific immunity. Mice immunized with PDA–melittin nanocomplex showed higher survival rate after exposion to melittin than untreated mice.ConclusionThe PDA–melittin nanocomplex can efficiently and safely generate a specific immunity against melittin to protect body from melittin intoxication, providing a new method with potential clinical application for the treatment of melittin intoxication.