Antigen-antibody immunogenic complex: promising novel vaccines for microbial persistent infections.
BACKGROUND
Persistent microbial infections are major public health problems worldwide. Immunotherapies have become an important treatment for persistent infections. With the increasing senescent population, low responsiveness to the current preventive vaccines is another challenge for control of infectious diseases.


OBJECTIVE
Active immunotherapy by antigen-antibody complexes (IC) is reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
IC have shown effects in an hepatitis B surface antigen positive transgenic mouse model by reducing HBsAg, inducing anti-HBs and initiating cytolytic responses. Phase I, IIA and IIB clinical trials in around 300 viral hepatitis B patients have shown promising results. The mechanisms of IC are mainly modulation of antigen uptake and antigen processing and antigen presentation by IC. The prospects for employing IC in treatment of other microbial persistent infections and for prevention in immunocompromized individuals are discussed.
Wen
Yu-mei
YM
Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College, Key Lab Medical Molecular Virology, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. ymwen@shmu.edu.cn
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines