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The use of a good vaccine adjuvant may induce a higher immunogenicity profile of vaccine antigens. Here, we developed a new adjuvant by combining poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) with alum (PGA/Alum) and investigated its ability to enhance the immunogenicity and the cross-reactive efficacy of pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza vaccine antigen. PGA/Alum enhanced antigen delivery to draining lymph nodes and antigen-specific immunogenicity in mice using OVA as a model antigen. It also greatly increased OVA-specific antibody production, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). These abilities of PGA/Alum improved the protective efficacy of pH1N1 vaccine antigen by increasing hemagglutination-inhibition titers, enhancing ADCC and CTL activity, and speeding viral clearance following homologous viral challenge. Importantly, the cross-protective efficacy of pH1N1 vaccine against heterologous viruses [A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Hong Kong/1/1968 (H3N2)] was significantly enhanced by PGA/Alum, and cross-reactive ADCC and CTL activities were observed. Together, our results strongly suggest that PGA/Alum may be a promising vaccine adjuvant for preventing influenza and other infectious diseases.

The use of a good vaccine adjuvant may induce a higher immunogenicity profile of vaccine antigens. Here, we developed a new adjuvant by combining poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) with alum (PGA/Alum) and investigated its ability to enhance the immunogenicity and the cross-reactive efficacy of pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza vaccine antigen. PGA/Alum enhanced antigen delivery to draining lymph nodes and antigen-specific immunogenicity in mice using OVA as a model antigen. It also greatly increased OVA-specific antibody production, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). These abilities of PGA/Alum improved the protective efficacy of pH1N1 vaccine antigen by increasing hemagglutination-inhibition titers, enhancing ADCC and CTL activity, and speeding viral clearance following homologous viral challenge. Importantly, the cross-protective efficacy of pH1N1 vaccine against heterologous viruses [A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Hong Kong/1/1968 (H3N2)] was significantly enhanced by PGA/Alum, and cross-reactive ADCC and CTL activities were observed. Together, our results strongly suggest that PGA/Alum may be a promising vaccine adjuvant for preventing influenza and other infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll‑like receptor (TLR) agonists are known for their ability to inhibit tumor progression via enhancing antitumor cytokines production and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Recombinant Helicobacter pylori neutrophil‑activating protein fused with maltose‑binding protein (rMBP‑NAP) has been reported as a novel TLR agonist for antitumor treatment in murine models. The present study aimed to determine the potential and efficacy of the rMBP‑NAP for antitumor treatment prior to further clinical trials. The rMBP‑NAP was expressed and purified for subsequent experiments. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from health donors and patients with lung cancer (LC) were incubated with PBS and 0.2 mg/ml rMBP‑NAP. Antitumor cytokines production was assayed using ELISA and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The cytolytic activity of PBMCs and the number of Interferon‑γ (IFN‑γ)‑secreting cells were assayed using lactate dehydrogenase and Enzyme‑linked ImmunoSpot assays, respectively. The results from the present study revealed that the expression of IFN‑γ, interleukin (IL)‑2, tumor necrosis factor‑α and IL‑12 of PBMCs from patients with LC and healthy donors were significantly increased following treatment with rMBP‑NAP (P<0.05). Additionally, rMBP‑NAP significantly upregulated the number of IFN‑γ‑secreting cells in PBMCs and prominently increased the cytotoxic activity of PBMCs (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of TLR2 was significantly enhanced following rMBP‑NAP stimulation (P<0.05), which indicated that rMBP‑NAP may serve an antitumor role via TLR2 signaling pathways. Overall, these results demonstrated that rMBP‑NAP possesses the potential to be a novel immunomodulatory candidate drug and requires further evaluation in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]