Immune Responses to Methamphetamine by Active Immunization with Peptide-Based, Molecular Adjuvant-Containing Vaccines

Authors

• Michael J. Duryee, Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center
• Rick A. Bevins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Carmela M. Reichel, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Jennifer E. Murray, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Yuxiang Dong, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Geoffrey M. Thiele, Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center
• Sam D. Sanderson, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984000 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in Vaccine 27 (2009) 2981–2988.

Abstract

Vaccines to methamphetamine (meth) were designed by covalently attaching a meth hapten (METH) to peptide constructs that contained a conformationally biased, response-selective molecular adjuvant, YSFKPMPLaR (EP54). Rats immunized with EP54-containing meth vaccines generated serum antibody titers to authentic meth, an immune outcome that altered meth self-administration. Immunization increased meth self-administration suggesting pharmacokinetic antagonism. The ability of immune sera to bind a METH-modified target protein dramatically decreased during and shortly after the meth self-administration assay, suggesting effective sequestration of free meth. However, the binding ability of immune sera to the METH-modified target protein was recovered 34 days after meth-free clearance time.