Effect of adjuvant composition on immune response to a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing a protective epitope from Neisseria meningitidis class 1 porin

A variety of adjuvants with the potential for use with experimental human v accines were used for immunisation of mice, in an attempt to augment the hu moral immune response to a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing a prot ective epitope from the sero-subtype specific class 1 porin protein of Neis seria meningitidis, in tandem with a Th-cell epitope. Surface plasmon reson ance showed that combinations of the immunomodulators pluronic block co-pol ymer, muramyl dipeptide and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), increased the mag nitude and avidity of the immune response in comparison with both Al(OH)(3) and Freund-type adjuvants. In addition, the incorporation of MPL was essen tial for the induction of a broad distribution of antibody isotypes. The an tibodies induced recognised the native protein in meningococcal outer membr anes in a subtype-specific manner. The formulations containing these multip le immunomodulators which have already been used in human phase I/II trials with experimental vaccines, are candidates for inclusion in future human v accines based on synthetic peptides containing defined, protective epitopes . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.