Liposome oligomannose-coated with neoglycolipid, a new candidate for a safe adjuvant for induction of CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response has recently been shown to play a role in protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and it is th erefore thought that a vaccine against HIV must be able to elicit a CTL res ponse. The development of a safe, effective adjuvant is very important beca use alum, the only adjuvant available for use in humans at present, can bar ely induce a response of this type. We demonstrate here that liposomes that contain an immunodominant peptide (15 amino acids) of the envelope glycopr otein gp120 of HIV-1 and that are coated with mannopentaose-dipalmitoyl-pho sphatidylethanolamine conjugate induce a major histocompatibility complex c lass I-restricted CD8(+) CTL response in mice with a single subcutaneous im munization, whereas non-coated liposomes do not. Since no damage to the ski n at the injection site mas caused by the liposomes, and since the oligoman nose-coated liposomes consist of innocuous materials ubiquitously distribut ed throughout the human body, they may be highly suitable for use as a safe adjuvant in vaccines inducing a CTL response against HIV. (C) 1998 Federat ion of European Biochemical Societies.