CpG ODN B对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效应

目的:探究CpG ODN作为疫苗佐剂对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫效果。方法:将CpG ODN B/P这2种类型的免疫佐剂分别与鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒载体疫苗BV-BXY-F混合后,以鼻腔免疫方式进行鸡体免疫,并进行攻毒保护实验,通过对鸡体的临床症状观察,以及检测免疫保护率、中和抗体水平、淋巴细胞增殖活性、细胞因子含量,分析各CpG ODN对鸡新城疫疫苗免疫效果的影响。结果:BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN B免疫组鸡在免疫后42 d中和抗体效价最高,免疫保护率100%,中和抗体效价,sIgA、IgG、IgA、IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞含量较BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN P组分别提高了32.08%、8.44%、13.56%、23.71%、50.20%、132.97%、39.76%、38.43%、25.99%,且差异显著(P0.05),与单独免疫组BV-BXY-F相比分别提高了13.71%、89.39%、10.41%、21.26%、159.17%、52.71%、237.84%、80.51%、75.57%。结论:CpG ODN B对增强鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效果最好。     

CpG联合铝佐剂增强RBD-Fc重组蛋白诱导小鼠免疫反应效果的研究

由严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒2(Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)引起的2019冠状病毒病（Coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19）大流行对全球健康和经济构成了严重威胁,SARS-CoV-2关切变异株（Variants of concern,VOCs）的出现更增加了疫苗研发的难度,因此,优化设计对突变株具有广谱免疫反应的疫苗显得尤为重要。本研究选取具有大量显性中和表位的受体结合域（Receptor-binding domain,RBD）蛋白作为目标抗原,在SARS-CoV-2经典株RBD序列的基础上引入多个VOCs的关键突变位点,将其与人IgG1 Fc片段融合表达,并结合CpG单佐剂、氢氧化铝单佐剂或CpG与氢氧化铝复合佐剂两剂次免疫小鼠,比较CpG联合铝佐剂相比单独使用铝或CpG佐剂诱导细胞免疫和体液免疫反应的增强作用,同时观察小鼠产生抗不同VOCs活病毒的交叉中和抗体滴度。结果显示,与单佐剂相比,RBD-Fc蛋白结合CpG与氢氧化铝复合佐剂免疫小鼠可产生最高的IgG结...     

丙型肝炎病毒高变区1模拟表位的交叉反应性分析

研究丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)高变区1(Hypervariable region 1,HVR1)抗原表位的交叉反应性,获取高反应性的抗原表位.设计并合成5种HVR1模拟表位基因,构建编码HVR1模拟表位的表达载体,表达并纯化表位蛋白.ELISA法检测表位蛋白与35份HCV抗体阳性血清的交叉反应性.包装HCV假病毒(HCV pseudotype particles,HCVpp),评价表位蛋白免疫BALB/c鼠血清在假病毒感染Huh7.5细胞中的作用.结果表明,表达纯化的5种表位蛋白(P1、P2、P5、P6、P8)均可与HCV抗体阳性血清反应,阳性反应率分别为54.3%(P1)、62.9%(P2)、80%(P5)、68.6%(P6)、54.3%(P8).表位蛋白P6、P8免疫BALB/c鼠血清对HCV假病毒感染Huh7.5细胞具明显的抑制作用.结果提示,选取的HVR1模拟表位在HCV感染免疫与疫苗研制中可能具有潜在的价值.     

不同佐剂对人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6蛋白免疫效果的影响

目的:研究CpG佐剂、弗氏佐剂、聚肌胞苷酸佐剂及左旋咪唑、西米替丁作为佐剂对人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6融合蛋白在小鼠体内产生的免疫效果的影响。方法:以单独蛋白组、蛋白加各佐剂组分别肌肉注射免疫C57BL/6小鼠,检测不同佐剂诱发小鼠产生的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答水平,并观察其对小鼠肿瘤生长的抑制作用。结果:各免疫组均能检测到高滴度的抗L2、E7、E6蛋白IgG抗体(以IgG1为主),其中弗氏佐剂能显著提高E6蛋白的IgG和IgG1抗体水平和E7蛋白的IgG1抗体水平(P<0.05),CpG佐剂明显提高了E7蛋白的IgG2a抗体水平(P<0.01);而西米替丁佐剂则降低了E7抗原的IgG抗体水平(P<0.05);同时可以检测到CpG佐剂组能诱发小鼠产生针对E7、E6较强的细胞免疫反应,且能抑制70%的荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长;此外弗氏佐剂与聚肌胞苷酸佐剂可产生较弱的针对E7肽的细胞免疫反应,能延缓荷瘤小鼠肿瘤形成时间,与单纯蛋白组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。结论:CpG佐剂、弗氏佐剂和聚肌胞苷酸佐剂都能提高人乳头瘤病毒16型L2E7E6融合蛋白的细胞免疫反应水平和抑制肿瘤生长能力,其中CpG佐剂效果较好,为促进该蛋白作为疫苗的研发提供了实验依据。     

阳离子脂质体DOTAP佐剂对H5N1流感病毒裂解疫苗免疫效果的影响

目的研究阳离子脂质体DOTAP佐剂对H5N1型流感病毒裂解疫苗免疫效果的影响。方法制备DOTAP阳离子脂质体流感病毒裂解疫苗(简称DOTAP流感裂解疫苗),检测其包封率。将BALB/c小鼠分为13组,分别用含0.1、1.0、10.0μg HA/只剂量以DOTAP、Al(OH)3、CPG-ODN为佐剂以及不含佐剂的流感裂解疫苗于0、21天皮下免疫,PBS作为对照组,用血凝抑制试验检测小鼠初次免疫后21、42天血清HI抗体滴度;用ELISA检测初次免疫后21、42天血清特异性IgG抗体、IgG1、IgG2a亚类抗体滴度,以及初次免疫后42天小鼠脾脏单个核细胞体外经抗原刺激后细胞因子IL-2、IL-4、IFN-γ的分泌水平。将BALB/c小鼠分为3组,分别用含不同DOTAP剂量(100、300、600μg/只)的DOTAP流感裂解疫苗于0、21天皮下免疫,检测初次免疫后21、42天小鼠血清HI抗体滴度和IgG抗体滴度。结果 DOTAP流感裂解疫苗粒径在300~400 nm,带正电荷,包封率在50%以上;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗诱导的HI抗体水平和特异性IgG抗体水平均高于流感裂解疫苗,而与铝佐剂和Cp G-ODN佐剂间差异无统计学意义;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗产生的抗体仍以IgG1亚类抗体为主,免疫后42天诱导的IgG2a亚类抗体水平高于流感裂解疫苗和铝佐剂,低于Cp G-ODN佐剂;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗免疫后既分泌高水平Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ,同时也分泌高水平Th2型细胞因子IL-4;不同DOTAP剂量的DOTAP流感裂解疫苗免疫后,其HI抗体滴度和IgG抗体滴度在低、中、高剂量组之间存在明显的量效关系。结论 DOTAP作为H5N1型流感病毒裂解疫苗的佐剂可显著提高流感裂解疫苗的免疫原性,其对体液免疫应答的增强作用不低于铝佐剂和Cp G-ODN佐剂,并具有诱导细胞免疫应答的能力。     

CpG壳聚糖纳米颗粒对小鼠乙型肝炎疫苗免疫应答的影响

为探索高效安全的分子免疫增强剂,本实验设计合成含11个CpG基序的寡聚核苷酸(CpG ODN),制备壳聚糖纳米颗粒包裹CpG ODN,研究新型CpG ODN壳聚糖纳米颗粒(CpG-CNP)对人乙型肝炎疫苗的免疫佐剂效应.在肌注乙型肝炎疫苗免疫6周龄昆明小鼠的同时,肌注接种裸CpG ODN 30 pmol/只(A1组)和CpG-CNP 5 pmol/只(A2组),口服CpG-CNP 30 pmol/只(B组),并设生理盐水空白疫苗对照组(C组).在接种后每周采血,Sandwich ELISA检测实验小鼠IL-2、IL-4、IL-6、IgG、IgA和IgM水平以及特异性抗体(HbsAb)含量和免疫细胞数量的变化.结果 发现各实验组小鼠的白细胞介素、血清免疫球蛋白、乙肝特异抗体和外周血免疫细胞均较对照组显著增多(P<0.05);CpG-CNP肌注组小鼠血液的免疫球蛋白、特异性乙肝表面抗体和白细胞介素含量、淋巴细胞和单核细胞数量较A1组和B组显著增加(P<0.05).CpG-CNP口服组与裸CpG肌肉注射组无显著差异(P＞0.05).这些表明CpG-CNP不仅能高效诱导小鼠对乙肝疫苗的体液免疫应答,同时也显著增强其细胞免疫应答;CNP包裹可提高CpG的免疫刺激效应,减少CpG剂量,提示新CpG-CNP肌注或口服可用于HBV的免疫预防.     

HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒疫苗小鼠体内免疫学研究

研究重组戊型肝炎抗原(HEVAg)-乳酸/乙醇酸共聚物(PLGA)纳米颗粒抗原能否在动物体内诱导产生免疫应答。制备HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒抗原后,通过皮下、滴鼻、口服途径接种Balb/c小鼠,每隔4周加强免疫两次,HEVAg与铝盐佐剂(铝佐剂疫苗Al_2O_3-Ag)为对照组,一定时间内检测抗体及细胞因子的应答水平。结果HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒抗原在小鼠体内诱导产生有效的体液免疫、细胞免疫。滴鼻、口服途径黏膜系统中诱导产生较高滴度的IgA抗体,ELISPOT结果显示鼻腔、唾液腺中IgA ASCs数量显著增加;皮下途径诱导产生较高滴度的IgG抗体;常规铝佐剂疫苗相比于HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒抗原诱导较强的IgG抗体水平,未诱导产生黏膜免疫应答;HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒抗原诱导产生较强细胞免疫应答,皮下接种途径IFN-γ、IL-4生成细胞数量显著高于其它免疫组。与铝佐剂疫苗相比,HEVAg-PLGA纳米颗粒抗原能有效诱导产生系统免疫及黏膜免疫应答,显示HEVAg-PLGA有潜力成为备选HEV黏膜疫苗抗原,同时展示PLGA颗粒作为黏膜系统抗原递送载体及黏膜佐剂的优越性。     

不同佐剂对含S+PreS1融合抗原的乙型肝炎病毒颗粒疫苗免疫原性的影响

本研究在前期工作基础上,用CHO细胞表达的含PreS1+S融合抗原的新型基因工程HBV颗粒疫苗(HBSS1)与Al(OH)3、CpG及CpG+Al(OH)3等佐剂配伍,在Balb/C小鼠模型上研究不同佐剂对HBV颗粒疫苗肌肉注射后免疫应答的影响,主要包括抗体滴度、抗体亚型分类及特异性细胞免疫(γ-IFNELISpot检测)。结果表明:CpG佐剂结合HBSS1颗粒疫苗可快速诱导(单针免疫)高水平的抗PreS1及S抗体,IgG2a/IgG1比率1,同时可诱导较高抗原特异的细胞免疫应答;Al(OH)3+CpG双佐剂组一次免疫后可诱导产生最高的抗S抗体滴度(1:105),其产生的抗体亚类包括IgG1、IgG2a与IgG2b;在S抗原N端(13~49aa)存在优势CTL表位。结论:CpG佐剂结合HBSS1颗粒疫苗应是发展新型治疗性乙肝疫苗的较佳选项。     

CpG寡核苷酸联合热固化瘤苗对肝癌细胞Hca-F荷瘤小鼠的免疫治疗研究

目的探讨CpG寡核苷酸(ODN)联合热固化瘤苗的抗肿瘤作用。方法剥取肿瘤．称重并计算抑瘤率;MTT法测免疫小鼠CTL、Mψ和CTL细胞的体外杀伤活性;ELISA法测免疫小鼠血清中IL-10、IL-12水平。结果联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以诱导荷瘤小鼠的抑瘤作用,其抑瘤率与单独使用瘤苗或CpG ODN比较差异有显著性;联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以提高荷瘤小鼠NK、Mψ和CTL细胞的体外杀伤活性,与单独使用瘤苗组相比较,差异具有显著性,但与单独使用CpG ODN组相比较,NK、Mψ细胞的体外杀伤活性差异无显著性;联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以提高荷瘤小鼠血清中IL-12水平并降低血清中IL-10水平,与二者单独使用组比较差异都具有显著性。结论联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗能显著提高机体的免疫功能,尤其是特异性细胞免疫功能。     

CpG对乙型肝炎基因重组(CHO细胞)疫苗免疫效果的影响

为了研究CpG-寡脱氧核苷酸(CpG-OPN)作为佐剂对乙型肝炎基因重组(CHO细胞)疫苗(简称乙肝疫苗)免疫效果的影响,以乙肝疫苗加Al(OH)3、疫苗加CpG和疫苗加Al(OH)3与CpG3三种配伍方式,通过腹腔、皮下或肌内3种不同途径免疫Balb/c小鼠,观察不同免疫途径和不同配伍的免疫效果.同时又将疫苗与CpG混合后在4℃存放6个月再免疫小鼠,观察CpG的稳定性.结果表明:①3种免疫途径中以肌内注射效果最好,这在使用CpG的实验组尤为明显,在该组肌内免疫的ED50比腹腔的低了10倍,而诱发的抗体滴度提高了3倍;②疫苗与CpG、Al(OH)3联合使用的免疫效果最好,在肌内免疫时联合使用的免疫效果比疫苗+Al(OH)3提高4倍,比疫苗+CpG提高7倍;③疫苗+Al(OH)3免疫时,表现为IgG1抗体亚型占优势,而再加入CpG后则IgG1和IgG2a均升高,以IgG2a最显著;④疫苗与CpG混合后4℃保存半年,不影响其活性.     

Tailoring Subunit Vaccine Immunity with Adjuvant Combinations and Delivery Routes Using the Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Receptor-Binding Domain as an Antigen

The development of an effective vaccine is critical for prevention of a Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) pandemic. Some studies have indicated the receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein of MERS-CoV spike (S) is a good candidate antigen for a MERS-CoV subunit vaccine. However, highly purified proteins are typically not inherently immunogenic. We hypothesised that humoral and cell-mediated immunity would be improved with a modification of the vaccination regimen. Therefore, the immunogenicity of a novel MERS-CoV RBD-based subunit vaccine was tested in mice using different adjuvant formulations and delivery routes. Different vaccination regimens were compared in BALB/c mice immunized 3 times intramuscularly (i.m.) with a vaccine containing 10 µg of recombinant MERS-CoV RBD in combination with either aluminium hydroxide (alum) alone, alum and polyriboinosinic acid (poly I:C) or alum and cysteine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). The immune responses of mice vaccinated with RBD, incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) and CpG ODN by a subcutaneous (s.c.) route were also investigated. We evaluated the induction of RBD-specific humoral immunity (total IgG and neutralizing antibodies) and cellular immunity (ELISpot assay for IFN-γ spot-forming cells and splenocyte cytokine production). Our findings indicated that the combination of alum and CpG ODN optimized the development of RBD-specific humoral and cellular immunity following subunit vaccination. Interestingly, robust RBD-specific antibody and T-cell responses were induced in mice immunized with the rRBD protein in combination with IFA and CpG ODN, but low level of neutralizing antibodies were elicited. Our data suggest that murine immunity following subunit vaccination can be tailored using adjuvant combinations and delivery routes. The vaccination regimen used in this study is promising and could improve the protection offered by the MERS-CoV subunit vaccine by eliciting effective humoral and cellular immune responses.     

Parenteral and mucosal prime-boost immunization strategies in mice with hepatitis B surface antigen and CpG DNA

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs (CpG ODN) are potent adjuvants to protein antigens administered by parenteral or mucosal routes to BALB/c mice. To date, there have been no studies using combined parenteral/mucosal approaches with CpG DNA as adjuvant. In this study we evaluated different parenteral prime-mucosal boost and mucosal prime-parenteral boost strategies using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) alone or with different adjuvants: aluminum hydroxide (alum), cholera toxin (CT), CpG ODN. In addition, since CpG ODN has previously been shown to act synergistically with other adjuvants after parenteral or mucosal delivery, we also evaluated adjuvant combinations: alum+CpG ODN and CT+CpG ODN. The effects of adjuvant and administration strategy on systemic and mucosal humoral responses were measured, as well as cell-mediated immune responses (cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity). These results were compared to parenteral only or mucosal only strategies. Our findings demonstrate that parenteral immunization can prime for mucosal responses even when different lymph nodes were being targeted. HBsAg-specific immune responses (IgG in plasma, cytotoxic T lymphocytes) induced by parenteral prime could all be significantly enhanced by mucosal boosting and despite the fact that intramuscular immunization alone could not induce mucosal IgA, it could prime for a subsequent mucosal boost. In addition, the presence of adjuvant at time of boosting could influence the nature of subsequent immune responses (Th1 vs. Th2). Mice primed intranasally could have their systemic immune responses boosted with a parenteral administration and it was also possible to enhance mucosal responses induced by intranasal prime with an intramuscular boost.     

Cancer vaccines: single-epitope anti-idiotype vaccine versus multiple-epitope antigen vaccine

In this study, we compared the immunogenicity and tumor-protective activity of anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking a single tumor-associated epitope and tumor-associated antigen expressing multiple potentially immunogenic epitopes. We focused our study on the colorectal-carcinoma(CRC)-associated antigen GA733 (also known as CO17-1A/KS1-4/KSA/EpCAM). Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) BR3E4 was produced against murine anti-CRC mAb CO17-1A (Ab1) in rats. Full-length native GA733 protein was isolated from human tumor cells, and the extracellular domain protein (GA733-2E) was isolated from supernatants of recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells by immunoafffinity chromatography. The immunomodulatory activity of the Ab2 was compared with that of the antigen, both in rabbits and in mice. Mice, like humans but not rabbits, express a GA733 antigen homologue on some of their normal tissues. Thus, these in vivo models allow the comparison of the immunogenicity of Ab2 and antigen in the presence (mice) and absence (rabbits) of normal tissue expression and immunological tolerance of the GA733 antigen homologue. In rabbits, aluminum-hydroxide(alum)-precipitated native GA733 antigen was superior to alum-precipitated Ab2 in inducing specific humoral immunity. In mice, alum-precipitated recombinant GA733-2E antigen, but not alum-precipitated Ab2, induced specific humoral immunity. However, when the Ab2 was administered to mice in Freund's complete adjuvant, specific humoral immune responses were elicited. Ab2 in complete Freund's adjuvant and GA733-2E in alum were compared for their capacity to induce antigen-specific cellular immunity in mice. Whereas lymphoproliferative responses were obtained with the recombinant antigen only, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses were obtained with both recombinant antigen and Ab2, although these responses were lower than after antigen immunization. The recombinant antigen in alum did not protect mice against challenge with antigen-positive syngeneic murine CRC cells. Similar studies with Ab2 BR3E4 mimicking the CO17-1A epitope were not possible because the tumor cells do not express this epitope after transfection with the human GA733-2 cDNA. However, similar studies with Ab2 mimicking the epitope defined by mAb GA733, which is expressed by the transfected tumor cells, indicated a lack of tumor-protective activity of this Ab2. In contrast, the full-length antigen expressed by recombinant adenovirus inhibited the growth of established tumors in mice. In conclusion, soluble antigen is a more potent modulator of humoral and cellular immune responses than Ab2, both administered in adjuvant. However, for induction of protective immunity, the immunogenicity of the antigen must be further enhanced, e.g., by expression of the antigen in a viral vector. Received: 27 December 1999 / Accepted: 27 January 2000     

Adjuvant effect of CIA07, a combination of Escherichia coli DNA fragments and modified lipopolysaccharides, on the immune response to hepatitis B virus surface antigen

CIA07 is an immunostimulatory agent composed of bacterial DNA fragments and modified lipopolysaccharide, which has antitumor activity against bladder cancer in mice. In this study, the adjuvant activity of CIA07 was evaluated using hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) as the immunogen. Mice were immunized intramuscularly three times at 1-week intervals with HBsAg alone or in combination with alum, bacterial DNA fragments, modified lipopolysaccharide, CIA07 or CpG1826, and immune responses were assessed. At 1 week after the final injection, the HBsAg-specific total serum IgG antibody titer in CIA07-treated mice was 14 times higher than that in animals administered antigen alone, six times higher than in mice given alum or bacterial DNA fragments and twice as high as those treated with modified lipopolysaccharide or CpG1826, and remained maximal until 8 weeks postimmunization. Animals receiving antigen alone or plus alum displayed barely detectable HBsAg-specific serum IgG2a antibody responses. However, coadministration of CIA07 with antigen led to markedly enhanced serum IgG2a antibody titer and IFN-gamma(+) production in splenocytes, indicating that CIA07 effectively induces Th1-type immune responses. In addition, the number of HBsAg-specific CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was elevated in CIA07-treated mice. These data clearly demonstrate that CIA07 is able to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses to HBsAg, and confirm its potential as an adjuvant in therapeutic vaccines for hepatitis B virus infections.     

Priming of immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen in young mice immunized in the presence of maternally derived antibodies

Early vaccination is necessary to protect infants from various infectious diseases. However, this is often unsuccessful largely due to the immaturity of the neonatal immune system. Furthermore, maternally derived antibodies can interfere with active immunization. We have previously shown in young mice that immune responses against several different antigens can be improved by the addition of oligodeoxynucleotides containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs (CpG ODN). In this study we have evaluated immunization of newborn (1-7-day-old) BALB/c mice against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with alum and/or CpG ODN, in the presence of high levels of maternal antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs). Seroconversion rates and anti-HBs titers were compared to those induced by a HBsAg-expressing plasmid, since other studies had suggested DNA vaccines to be superior to protein vaccines in young mice with maternal antibody. HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN was superior to DNA vaccine in inducing HBsAg-specific CTL responses in young mice in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies. However, B cell responses to both HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN and DNA vaccines remained weak in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies.     

Antigenic targeting of the human mannose receptor induces tumor immunity

Pattern recognition receptors are preferentially expressed on APCs allowing selective uptake of pathogens for the initiation of antimicrobial immunity. In particular, C-type lectin receptors, including the mannose receptor (MR), facilitate APC-mediated adsorptive endocytosis of microbial glyconjugates. We have investigated the potential of antigenic targeting to the MR as a means to induce Ag-specific humoral and cellular immunity. hMR transgenic (hMR Tg) mice were generated to allow specific targeting with the anti-hMR Ab, B11. We show that hMR targeting induced both humoral and cellular antigenic specific immunity. Immunization of hMR Tg mice with B11 mAbs induced potent humoral responses independent of adjuvant. Injection of hMR Tg mice with mouse anti-hMR Ab clone 19.2 elicited anti-Id-specific humoral immunity while non-Tg mice were unresponsive. B11-OVA fusion proteins (B11-OVA) were efficiently presented to OVA-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in MR Tg, but not in non-Tg, mice. Effector differentiation of responding T cells in MR Tg mice was significantly enhanced with concomitant immunization with the TLR agonist, CpG. Administration of both CpG and B11-OVA to hMR Tg mice induced OVA-specific tumor immunity while WT mice remained unprotected. These studies support the clinical development of immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer using pattern recognition receptor targeting systems for the selective delivery of tumor Ags to APCs.     

Construction of an Immunostimulatory Plasmid, pUCpGs10, and Research on its Immune Adjuvant Effect

In order to overcome the instability of CpG ODN in vivo, sequence diversity, and individual differences, eleven CpG ODN fragments were meticulously selected and linked to form a Multi-CpG, which were repeatedly inserted into the cloning vector pUC19 for constructing the recombinant plasmid pUCpGs10 containing ten of Multi-CpG. Using the multi-genotype HCV E1 and multi-epitope complex HCV-T as immunogens, and plasmid pUCpGs10 as the immune adjuvant, Balb/c mice were immunized through nasal and subcutaneous immunization. Strong-specific humoral and cellular immune response were induced, which can obviously inhibit the growth of homograft expressing HCV antigen. The immune adjuvant effect of pUCpGs10 closely matched that of Freund’s complete adjuvant. The plasmid pUCpGs10 can significantly improve IgA content in serum and different mucosal extract and systematical T-cell response via intranasal immunization. In conclusions, the newly constructed immunostimulatory plasmid pUCpGs10 is able to effectively activate the humoral and cellular immune activity, and possesses activation on mucosal immune response.     

CPG ODN allows lower dose of antigen against hepatitis B surface antigen in BALB/c mice

We have evaluated alum, immunostimulatory cytosine guanine dinucleotide-containing oligodeoxy-nucleotides (CPG ODN), and an alum/CPG ODN combination as adjuvants with hepatitis B surface antigen, to compare their potential to allow lower doses of antigen to be used for induction of humoral responses. BALB/c mice were immunized by intramuscular injection with 0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 micro g recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen without adjuvant or with alum and/or CPG ODN added. When given without adjuvant or with alum, each 10-fold decrease in amount of antigen resulted in a similarly reduced titre of antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen. In contrast, CPG ODN, on its own or combined with alum, allowed high anti-hepatitis B surface antigen titres even with a 1000-fold reduction in amount of antigen. These findings may have important immunological and economical consequences for vaccine development.     

Intranasal immunization of mice with CpG DNA induces strong systemic and mucosal responses that are influenced by other mucosal adjuvants and antigen distribution

BACKGROUND: Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing immunostimulatory cytosine-guanine phosphate-linked dinucleotide (CpG) motifs are potent systemic and mucosal adjuvants in mice that have synergistic action with numerous other adjuvants, including alum and cholera toxin (CT). Herein, we evaluate CpG ODN with intranasal (IN) delivery of purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), relative to and in combination with CT, Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin (LT), the B subunit of CT (CTB), and a nontoxic derivative of LT (LTK63). MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized by IN administration of HBsAg, alone or combined with CT, LT, CTB, or LTK63, and/or CpG ODN, or non-CpG control ODN. In addition, the effect of low-or high-volume administration was assessed, in order to target upper respiratory or entire respiratory tract, respectively. HBsAg-specific systemic (immunoglobulins: IgG, IgG1, IgG2a in plasma) and mucosal (IgA in fecal, lung, vaginal, saliva, and gut samples) humoral responses, as well as cell-mediated immune responses including T-cell proliferation and cytokines (interleukins: IL-4, IL-5; interferon: IFN-gamma) were evaluated. RESULTS: CpG ODN, CT, and LT augmented anti-HBs titers equally, and more so than did CTB or LTK63. CpG ODN acted synergistically with CT and LT, but not CTB or LTK63 to enhance anti-HBs titers. Nevertheless, CpG ODN induced a more Th1-like response for all combinations, compared with the same formulation without CpG. Strength of induced systemic and mucosal immune responses was better with IN delivery of a large volume. A small volume required multiple administrations and higher doses of antigen and adjuvant for equal results. This suggests that delivery of antigen to the lung and/or diges-tive system is superior to delivery to the nasal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the synergy between CpG ODN and native toxins (CT, LT) may depend on their enzymatic activity and that the lack of synergy with nontoxic derivatives (LTB, LTK63) arises, since they do not have enzymatic activity. Because both CT and LT are too toxic for use in humans, it is possible that CpG ODN may be combined with bacterial toxin mutants that retain some enzymatic activity to optimize immune augmentation.