RGD motif enhances immunogenicity and adjuvanicity of peptide antigens following intranasal immunization

Abstract The use of peptides for various aspects of medical science has been a significant advance. Peptide-based vaccines are promising, but weak immunogenic potency is impeding the clinical application. We have remarkably enhanced the immunogenicity of peptide antigens by addition of motifs that bind to cell attachment proteins, such as arginine–glysine–aspartate (RGD), to the amino acid sequence. The modified peptides induced antigen-specific serum antibodies by intranasal immunization without adjuvants. RGD, an integrin-binding motif was the strongest, among several molecules tested in this experiment, giving an average of 10 times enhancement of antibody titers when incorporated into several peptide antigens. The peptides also acted as an efficient adjuvant following the intranasal immunization with protein antigens. Our data support the feasibility of developing peptide vaccines and peptide adjuvants for intranasal vaccination.