title: Quillaja brasiliensis saponins are less toxic than Quil A and have similar properties when used as an adjuvant for a viral antigen preparation.
abstract: In this study, a preparation of saponins (QB-90U) extracted from leaves of Quillaja brasiliensis collected in Uruguay was evaluated as a vaccine adjuvant by comparison with alum and the well known saponin-based adjuvant, Quil A. The haemolytic activity and cellular toxicity of the saponin preparations were also evaluated. QB-90U was only slightly haemolytic and showed a low cytotoxicity when compared to Quil A. The adjuvant properties of QB-90U were assayed by sub-cutaneous immunization of mice with a preparation of inactivated bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) either with no adjuvant or adjuvanted with QB-90U, Quil A or alum. Serum levels of anti-BoHV-5 IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and also IgG3 were significantly increased by QB-90U and were of the same order as those elicited by Quil A. Furthermore, high titres of neutralizing antibodies were found to be present in the serum of immunized animals from both groups. The cellular response induced by QB-90U did also reproduce the one elicited by Quil A. In fact, a robust DTH response was observed in mice immunized with both saponin preparations; as well as increased splenocytes levels of Th1-type cytokines, namely IFN-γ and IL-2. Taken together, the above results confirm and extend our previous observation regarding the similarity of the responses elicited by Quil A and the saponin preparation from Q. brasiliensis (Fleck et al., 2006) and indicate that QB-90U is worth of further studies as a safe and potent vaccine adjuvant.
authors: Laboratorio de Carbohidratos y Glicoconjugados, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico-Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Química Orgánica-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR). Instituto de Higiene. Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051. CP. 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Silveira
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Cibulski
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Varela
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Marqués
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chabalgoity
authors: F
authors: F
authors: de Costa
authors: A C A
authors: AC
authors: Yendo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gosmann
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Roehe
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Fernández
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D025881:Herpesvirus 5, Bovine / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D051379:Mice; D031990:Quillaja / Q000737:chemistry*; D062605:Quillaja Saponins; D012503:Saponins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; C570176:QB 90U; D062605:Quillaja Saponins; D012503:Saponins; C046386:Quil A