The class
Adjuvant-free Hsp65-CETP fusion vaccine induces antibodies lasting over 12 weeks and partially normalizes CETP activity in mice (Vaccine 2004)
Original title: Long-lasting specific antibodies against CETP induced by subcutaneous and mucosal administration of a 26-amino acid CETP epitope carried by heat shock protein 65 kDa in the absence of adjuvants
Researchers fused a 26-amino acid CETP C-terminal epitope to Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock protein 65 kDa (Hsp65), expressed the Hsp65-CETPC fusion as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli, and used it to immunize mice subcutaneously or intranasally without any adjuvant. Both routes induced specific anti-CETP antibodies, confirmed by ELISA and Western blot, that persisted for more than 12 weeks. These antibodies partially inhibited excessive CETP activity, bringing it toward normal levels, demonstrating that Hsp65 can serve as an adjuvant-free carrier for presenting a CETP epitope to the immune system and supporting further development of Hsp65-CETPC as an antiatherosclerosis vaccine.
Original abstract
The heat shock protein 65 kDa (Hsp65) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis was fused with the linear polypeptide epitope of cholesteryl ester transfer protein C-terminal fragment (CETPC) and expressed as soluble protein in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein Hsp65-CETPC was purified by anion exchange column and eluted at 100-130 mM NaCl in 10mM phosphate buffer (pH 8.0), and then used to immunize mice via subcutaneous injection or intranasal delivery in the absence of adjuvants. Antibodies against CETPC were detected in immunized mice sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and verified by Western blot analysis. Specific antibodies were successfully induced and lasted for more than 12 weeks in animals immunized with the fusion protein via both subcutaneous and intranasal routes even in the absence of adjuvants. Results showed that Hsp65 could be used as a convenient carrier molecule for presenting foreign polypeptide epitopes, such as CETPC, to the immune system in vivo. Antibodies induced by Hsp65-CETPC could partially inhibit the excessive activity of CETP to normal level. Therefore, Hsp65-CETPC might be further developed to a vaccine against atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.