title: Effect of adjuvant composition on immune response to a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing a protective epitope from Neisseria meningitidis class 1 porin.
abstract: A variety of adjuvants with the potential for use with experimental human vaccines were used for immunisation of mice, in an attempt to augment the humoral immune response to a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing a protective epitope from the sero-subtype specific class 1 porin protein of Neisseria meningitidis, in tandem with a Th-cell epitope. Surface plasmon resonance showed that combinations of the immunomodulators pluronic block co-polymer, muramyl dipeptide and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), increased the magnitude and avidity of the immune response in comparison with both Al(OH)3 and Freund-type adjuvants. In addition, the incorporation of MPL was essential for the induction of a broad distribution of antibody isotypes. The antibodies induced recognised the native protein in meningococcal outer membranes in a subtype-specific manner. The formulations containing these multiple immunomodulators which have already been used in human phase I/II trials with experimental vaccines, are candidates for inclusion in future human vaccines based on synthetic peptides containing defined, protective epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, UK. mc4@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christodoulides
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rattue
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heckels
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D018272:Porins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D018272:Porins