journal article·2025-08-13Open access

Biomimetic Apatite Nanoparticles and Microcrystalline Tyrosine as Biocompatible Vaccine Adjuvants: Performance in a Bluetongue Virus Sheep Model

Estela Pérez, Víctor Sebastián, Ana Rodríguez-Largo, Ricardo de Miguel, Álex Gómez, Matthias F. Kramer, Anke Graessel, Belén Parra-Torrejón, José Manuel Delgado-López, Sergio Utrilla-Trigo, Luis Jiménez-Cabello, Javier Ortego, Ignacio de Blas, Ramsés Reina, Marta Pérez, Lluís Luján

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces· Volume 17· Issue 32

Abstract

Aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH) is the most widely used vaccine adjuvant, but its known adverse effects prompt the finding of other, safer alternative adjuvants. This study compares in sheep the global performance and safety of vaccine prototypes against bluetongue virus (BTV) formulated with AlOOH, biomimetic apatite nanoparticles (ApNPs), and microcrystalline tyrosine (MCT). Five groups of 6 sheep were included in the study: control, BTV serotype 4 alone, and BTV-4 combined either with AlOOH, ApNPs, or MCT. Adjuvants were fully characterized. Group specific antibodies against BTV-4 were observed in all treatment groups, including BTV-4 alone. After booster inoculation, ApNPs or MCT groups responded immediately, and it was delayed for BTV-4 and AlOOH groups. Comparable neutralizing antibody responses were observed in all treatment groups but were earlier for BTV-4, ApNPs, and MCT groups when compared with the AlOOH group. No significant systemic alterations were observed during the study. The AlOOH group developed more pronounced local reactions that persisted throughout the 133-day study and were evident as post-mortem granulomas. ApNPs and MCT are biocompatible, safer, and viable alternative adjuvants for sheep vaccines. BTV alone might also be suitable for this purpose. This work is the first demonstrating the suitability of biocompatible alternative adjuvants in sheep vaccines.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Vector-Borne Animal Diseases · Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology · Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet Street, Zaragoza 50013, Spain

Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (INMA), CSIC-University of Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor Gómez Street I+D+i building, Zaragoza 50018, Spain

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3 Street, Zaragoza 50018, Spain

Advanced Microscopy Laboratory, University of Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor Gómez Street I+D+i building, Zaragoza 50018, Spain

Agri-Food Institute of Aragon (IA2), University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet Street, Zaragoza 50013, Spain

Bencard Adjuvant Systems, Allergy Therapeutics PLC, Dominion Way Street, Worthing BN14 8SA, U.K.

Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Granada, Fuentenueva avenue, Granada 18071, Spain

Center of Research in Animal Health (CISA-INIA, CSIC), Algete-El Casar road, km. 8.1, Madrid 28130, Spain

Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CSIC-Government of Navarra, Avenue of Pamplona, Mutilva 31192, Spain

Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet Street, Zaragoza 50013, Spain

Funding

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci?n y Universidades · Agencia Estatal de Investigaci?n

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