A novel vaccine delivery system using immunopotentiating fusogenic liposomes

We previously reported the preparation and characterization of fusogenic li posomes (FLs), which have two highly immunogenic glycoproteins of the Senda i virus on their surface. In this report, we investigated the capacity of F Ls to enhance antigen-specific humoral immunity in mice. FLs function as a lymphocyte mitogen with high immunogenicity consistent with viral envelope proteins. Markedly increased levels of anti-ovalbumin (OVA) antibody were d etected in serum from mice immunized with OVA encapsulated in FLs compared to sera from mice immunized with free OVA or OVA encapsulated in plain lipo somes. An anti-OVA antibody response was not observed in mice immunized wit h OVA simply mixed with empty FLs. These results indicate that FLs function as a novel immunoadjuvant in inducing antigen-specific antibody production . (C) 1999 Academic Press.