ADJUVANT ACTIVITY OF ISCOMS - EFFECT OF RATIO AND CO-INCORPORATION OFANTIGEN AND ADJUVANT

We have studied the importance of co-incorporation of antigen and adju vant in iscoms and the effects of different ratios of adjuvant and ant igen in the iscom particles. Immune responses to influenza virus antig ens (flu-Ag) in iscoms were compared to those induced by flu-Ag mixed with iscom-matrix, i.e. antigen and adjuvant delivered in separate pac kages. Higher doses of Quil A were required with iscom-matrix to induc e strong immune responses compared to iscoms containing the same amoun t of antigen. The immunogenic properties of iscoms were affected by th e ratio between antigen and adjuvant in the particles, Both iscoms and flu-Ag mixed with iscom-matrix induced antigen-specific antibodies wi th similar IgG subclass distribution and activated spleen cells produc ing high levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in vitro. Copyright (C) 1996 Els evier Science Ltd.