title: Co-administration of CpG oligonucleotides enhances the late affinity maturation process of human anti-hepatitis B vaccine response.
abstract: We assessed the avidity maturation process elicited by human immunization with alum-adsorbed HBsAg alone or with a novel adjuvant containing CpG motifs (CpG 7909). Mean avidity indexes and distribution of low- and high-avidity anti-HBs indicated that avidity maturation essentially takes place late after priming. CpG 7909 markedly enhanced this affinity maturation process, increasing the pool of high-avidity antibodies. The influence of CpG 7909 was antigen-specific, isotype-specific and distinct from the influence on anti-HBs production, as avidity did not correlate with anti-HBs IgG titers. This is the first demonstration that a novel human adjuvant may induce antibodies with higher antigen-binding affinity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, University of Geneva, C.M.U., 1 rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Claire-Anne.Siegrist@medecine.unige.ch
authors.forename: Claire-Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pihlgren
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tougne
authors.forename: Sue M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Efler
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Mohammed J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: AlAdhami
authors.forename: D William
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Curtis L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Paul-Henri
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C483020:ProMune