THE EFFECT OF SYNTEX ADJUVANT FORMULATION (SAF-M) ON HUMORAL IMMUNITYTO THE INFLUENZA-VIRUS IN THE MOUSE

Syntex adjuvant in its microfluidized from (SAFm) was equal to or supe rior to Freund's complete adjuvant in stimulating an enhanced hemagglu tination inhibition (HI) antibody response in mice to trivalent influe nza virus vaccine (TIV). There was an average 16-fold increase in HI t iter for the three components of the vaccine with no significant diffe rences among strains. The increased serum antibodies correlated with a n increase in protection against infection. The threonyl-MDP (t-MDP) c omponent of the adjuvant played no role in this activity. The vehicle, in contrast, was so effective that it could be diluted 1:202 (in the presence of t-MDP) and still retain a statistically significant effect . Vaccine and adjuvant could be stored together at 4 degrees C, for 2 years without a statistically significant change in potency. Mice were given a priming immunization with TIV, PBS, or adjuvanted TIV (AIV), A year later, the mice were boosted with heterotypic TIV or AIV. The n ature of the priming immunization mane no difference in the strong ant ibody response to an AIV boost. However, priming significantly improve d the response to TIV with AIV being the best printer. The enhancement in the antibody response to A/Shanghai of the unprimed (PBS) elderly mice caused by AIV (14-fold improvement over TIV) was similar to that in young mice. Female mice had antibody titers which overall were 2.6- fold higher than those of males (P < 0.0001) for AIV and TIV. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.