Towards the synthesis of a highly pure, multiepitopic, mucosal group A streptococcal lipopeptide vaccine Peter M. Moyle a , Colleen Olive b , Mei-fong Ho b , Melinda Burgess b , Levente Karpati a , Michael Good b , Istvan Toth a, * a School of Pharmacy and School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia b Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia Abstract. Synthesis of a tri-epitopic Group A streptococcal lipopeptide vaccine was achieved using native chemical ligation. The vaccine was administered intranasally to B10.BR mice, (H-2 k ) with cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) or sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Following five boosts, blood was collected for ELISA. Significant IgG antibody titres were observed to the included peptide epitopes following administration with CTB. However, no significant IgG titres were observed in the absence of CTB. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Group A streptococcal vaccines; Lipopeptide vaccines; Intranasal vaccination; Mucosal vaccines 1. Introduction Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection is responsible for numerous diseases, with impetigo and acute pharyngitis being most common [1]. In cases in which GAS infection is not treated, or treated inadequately, non-suppurative sequalae (rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, and acute glomerulonephritis) may develop. These diseases only develop following infection with GAS and exhibit high morbidity and mortality. As such, prophylactic GAS vaccine development offers a means to prevent these diseases. GAS vaccine development generally focuses upon the GAS cell surface M-protein. This protein contains a highly variable amino-terminal region and a highly conserved C- 0531-5131/ D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ics.2005.11.084 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 7 3346 9892. E-mail address: i..toth@uq.edu.au (I. Toth). International Congress Series 1289 (2006) 324 – 328 www.ics-elsevier.com