A comparison of commercially available adjuvants in BALB/c-mice immunised with a weekly immunogenic peptide

The antibody-stimulating activities and side effects of commercially availa ble adjuvants were compared in BALB/c mice immunised with the immunosuppres sive (ISU) peptide of HN I. Clinical and pathological-histological paramete rs as well as behavioural changes, were used to assess the distress and pai n caused to the animals. Complete Freund Is Adjuvant (FAk) was used as the positive control and PBS as the negative control. The oil-based adjuvants M ontanide ISA 51(R) (M 51), Specol(R), and Hunter's TiterMax Cold(R) (HTMG) were used with the ISU-peptide conjugated to KLH. The water-soluble Gerbu A djuvant(R) was administered together with the antigen KLH conjugate and als o with the ISU-peptide conjugated to cholera toxin B subunit (ChTxB). The D utch "Code of Practice" was used as a guideline for all immunisations. No c hanges in animal activity or behaviour was observed in any of the groups. A ll the oil-based adjuvants gave rise to swellings and encapsulations, which were most pronounced in the HTMG-group. Although body weight increased thr oughout the study, no increase was seen in any adjuvant group for a short p eriod after each booster immunisation, nor after the first immunisation in the HTMG group. FAR induced a light fever after all immunisations. FAk, Spe col and M 51 as well as Gerbu-ChTxB induced antibody titres which were dete ctable in the ELISA, but no detectable antibody the water-soluble adjuvants or following administration of HTMG applied with the ISU-peptide-KLH conju gate.