Synthesis of Laminarin Fragments and Evaluation of a β-(1,3) Glucan Hexasaccaride-CRM₁₉₇ Conjugate as Vaccine Candidate against Candida albicans

Abstract

Laminarin-CRM₁₉₇ glycoconjugates were previously demonstrated to be immunogenic and confer protection against Candida albicans in mice. Laminarin consists of β-(1,3) glucan repeating units, with sporadic β-(1,6) branches. A set of short glucans was used to study the effect of the β-(1,6) branch on the antigenicity of linear β-(1,3) glucans. A linear β-(1,3) glucan hexasaccharide was selected as the best fragment able to inhibit the binding between laminarin and antilaminarin antibodies. The hexamer was then conjugated to CRM₁₉₇ and induced, in mice, significant titers of specific antilaminarin antibodies comparable with those raised by the Lam-CRM₁₉₇ conjugate.

Keywords:

• Candida albicans
• Glycoconjugate vaccine
• Glucans
• Delevulinoylation

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Erratum