INDUCTION OF T-CELL IMMUNITY TO OLIGOSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS IMMOBILIZED ON CRYSTALLINE BACTERIAL SURFACE-LAYERS (S-LAYERS)

Immunization of Balb/c mice with conjugates of oligosaccharide haptens and crystalline bacterial surface-layer proteins (S-layers) primed th e mice for a strong, hapten-specific, delayed-type hypersensitivity (D TH) response. Conjugates of haptens with bovine serum albumin produced only weak DTH responses but, when mixed with aluminium hydroxide, eli cited DTH responses comparable to those against S-layer conjugates. Su rface-layer conjugates also elicited strong anti-hapten DTH responses when administered by an oral/nasal route. Apparently, the natural asse mbly of S-layer proteins into large, two-dimensional arrays endows the m with intrinsic adjuvant properties.