ISCOM (IMMUNO STIMULATING COMPLEX) VACCIN E OF EQUINE INFLUENZA-VIRUSTRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Vaccines on the base of immunostimulating complexes are very rare in h uman and veterinary practice. Until now, Iscom vaccines mainly have be en developed for scientific experimental investigations. Synthesis and preparation of Iscom vaccines, mainly basing on the reviewed literatu re, as well as electron microscopical investigations of Iscom structur es and the monitoring of vaccine fractions of Iscoms are described. Th e equine influenza Iscom vaccine, developed by the Mallinckrodt Veteri nary GmbH, is one of the first commercial Iscom vaccine used in veteri nary medicine. In comparison with other commercially used vaccines, de pending on the high level of antigen presentation of iscom structures, a ten times higher antibody response is to be expected by the use of Iscom vaccines.