title: Immunization against anthrax with Bacillus anthracis protective antigen combined with adjuvants.
abstract: The protective efficacy of immunization against anthrax with Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) combined with different adjuvants was tested in Hartley guinea pigs and CBA/J and A/J mice. Adjuvant components derived from microbial products that were tested included threonyl-muramyl dipeptide (threonyl-MDP); monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL); trehalose dimycolate (TDM); and the delipidated, deproteinized, cell wall skeleton (CWS) from either Mycobacterium phlei or the BCG strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Non-microbially derived adjuvants tested included aluminum hydroxide and the lipid amine CP-20,961. In guinea pigs, all adjuvants and adjuvant mixtures enhanced antibody titers to PA as well as survival after a parenteral challenge of virulent B. anthracis Ames spores. In contrast, PA alone or combined with either aluminum hydroxide or CP-20,961 failed to protect mice. Vaccines containing PA combined with threonyl-MDP or MPL-TDM-CWS protected a majority of female CBA/J mice. Statistical analysis of survival data in the guinea pigs indicated that PA-MPL-CWS and PA-MPL-TDM-CWS were more efficacious than the currently licensed human anthrax vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ivins
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Welkos
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Crumrine
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines