title: Adjuvant system AS01: helping to overcome the challenges of modern vaccines.
abstract: Adjuvants are used to improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy by enhancing antigen presentation to antigen-specific immune cells with the aim to confer long-term protection against targeted pathogens. Adjuvants have been used in vaccines for more than 90 years. Combinations of immunostimulatory molecules, such as in the Adjuvant System AS01, have opened the way to the development of new or improved vaccines. Areas covered: AS01 is a liposome-based vaccine adjuvant system containing two immunostimulants: 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and the saponin QS-21. Here we describe studies investigating the mode of action of AS01, and consider the role of AS01 in enhancing specific immune responses to the antigen for selected candidate vaccines targeting malaria and herpes zoster. The effects of AS01 are rapid and transient, being localized to the injected muscle and draining lymph node. AS01 is efficient at promoting CD4+T cell-mediated immune responses and is an appropriate candidate adjuvant for inclusion in vaccines targeting viruses or intracellular pathogens. Expert commentary: AS01 activity to enhance adaptive responses depends on synergistic activities of QS-21 and MPL. AS01 adjuvantation shows good prospects for use in new vaccines targeted to populations with challenging immune statuses and against diseases caused by complex pathogens.
authors.affiliation: a GSK Vaccines, Adjuvant Platform , Wavre , Belgium.
authors.forename: Arnaud M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Didierlaurent
authors.affiliation: a GSK Vaccines, Adjuvant Platform , Wavre , Belgium.
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laupèze
authors.affiliation: a GSK Vaccines, Adjuvant Platform , Wavre , Belgium.
authors.forename: Alberta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
authors.affiliation: a GSK Vaccines, Adjuvant Platform , Wavre , Belgium.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hergli
authors.affiliation: a GSK Vaccines, Adjuvant Platform , Wavre , Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collignon
authors.affiliation: b Bioaster Technology Research Institute , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garçon
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008050:Lipid A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D008050:Lipid A; D008081:Liposomes; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D012503:Saponins; C000592464:adjuvant system 01
keywords: AS01; Vaccine; adaptive immune response; adjuvant; immune response; immunogenicity; innate immune response; safety