Alpha alumina nanoparticle conjugation to cysteine peptidase A and B: an efficient method for autophagy induction

ABSTRACT

Background: autophagy as a cellular pathway facilitates several immune responses against infection. It also eliminates invading pathogens through transferring content between the cytosol and the lysosomal vesicles and contributes to the cross-presentation of exogenous antigens to T lymphocytes via MHC class I pathway. Autophagy induction is one of the main targets for new drugs and future vaccine formulations. Nanoparticles are one of the candidates for autophagy induction. Cysteine Peptidase A [CPA] and Cysteine Peptidase B [CPB] are two members of papain family [Clan CA, family C1] enzyme that have been considered as a virulence factor of Leishmania [L.] major, making them suitable vaccine candidates. In this research, Leishmania major cysteine peptidase A and B [CPA and CPB] conjugation to alpha alumina nanoparticle was the main focus and their entrance efficacy to macrophages was assessed