Agonists of Toll-like receptors 3, 4, 7, and 9 are candidates for use as adjuvants in an outer membrane vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

Infect Immun. 2007 Dec;75(12):5939-46. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00846-07. Epub 2007 Oct 1.

Abstract

The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis is the causative agent of meningitis and sepsis. A generally effective vaccine against N. meningitidis serogroup B is not yet available, but outer membrane vesicle vaccines are in development. These vaccines contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The inclusion of N. meningitidis wild-type LPS in a vaccine is controversial because of its high toxicity. Therefore, the adjuvant activity of a panel of different Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists in combination with LPS-deficient meningococcal outer membrane complexes was compared after immunization of mice. The results demonstrate that TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9 agonists enhance immune responses against LPS-deficient outer membrane complexes. Their adjuvant activity was characterized by higher levels of antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG2a, and IgG2b; a higher IgG2a/IgG1 ratio; lower total IgE levels; and most importantly, higher serum bactericidal antibody titers compared to LPS-deficient outer membrane complexes alone.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity / immunology
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Meningococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / agonists*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Immunoglobulin E