• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.169-178
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• 2009

DNA immunization induces B and T cell responses to various pathogens and tumors. However, these responses are known to be relatively weak and often transient. Thus, novel strategies are necessary for enhancing immune responses induced by DNA immunization. Here, we demonstrated that co-immunization of influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) gene significantly enhances humoral and cell-mediated responses to codelivered antigens in mice. We also found that NP DNA coimmunization augments in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, which enhanced protective immunity against tumor challenge. Our results suggest that NP DNA can serve as a novel genetic adjuvant in cocktail DNA vaccination.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 2010

Vaccine is one of the best known and most successful applications of immunological theory to human health and it protects human life through inducing the immune response in systemic compartment. However, when we consider the fact that mucosal epithelium is exposed to diverse foreign materials including viruses, bacteria, and food antigens and protects body from entry of unwanted materials using layer of tightly joined epithelial cells, establishing the immunological barrier on the lining of mucosal surfaces is believed to be an effective strategy to protect body from unwanted antigens. Unfortunately, however, oral mucosal site, which is considered as the best target to induce mucosal immune response due to application convenience, is prone to induce immune tolerance rather than immune stimulation. Since intestinal epithelium is tightly organized, a prerequisite for successful mucosal vaccination is delivery of antigen to mucosal immune induction site including a complex system of highly specialized cells such as M cells. Consequently, development of efficient mucosal adjuvant capable of introducing antigens to mucosal immune induction site and overcome oral tolerance is an important subject in oral vaccine development. In this review, various approaches on the development of oral mucosal adjuvants being suggested for effective oral mucosal immune induction.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Background: There have been several reports describing the capability of ginseng extracts as an adjuvant. In this study, we tested if ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng, was effective in enhancing antibody response to orally delivered Salmonella antigen. Methods: Ginsan was treated before oral salmonella antigen administration. Salmonella specific antibody was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Cell migration was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COX expression was detected by western blot. Results: Ginsan treatment before oral Salmonella antigen delivery significantly increased both secretory and serum antibody production. Ginsan increased the expression of COX in the Peyer's patches. Various genes were screened and we found that CCL3 mRNA expression was increased in the Peyer's patch. Ginsan increased dendritic cells in the Peyer's patch and newly migrated dendritic cells were mostly found in the subepithelial dome region. When COX inhibitors were treated, the expression of CCL3 was reduced. COX inhibitor also antagonized both the migration of dendritic cells and the humoral immune response against oral Salmonella antigen. Conclusion: Ginsan effectively enhances the humoral immune response to orally delivered antigen, mediated by CCL3 via COX. Ginsan may serve as a potent vaccine suppliment for oral immunization.

• 한국당과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2006

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

A DNA vaccine methodology using eukaryote expression vectors to produce immunizing proteins in the vaccinated hosts is a novel approach to the development of vaccine and immuno-therapeutics, and it has achieved considerable success over several infectious diseases and various cancers. To further enhance its efficiency, attempts were made to develop novel plasmid vectors containing multiple immunostimulatory CpG motifs, for rapid and strong immune response. First, a 2.9 kb compact plasmid vector (pVAC), containing CMV promoter, polycloning site, BGH poly(A) terminator, ampicillin resistance gene and pBR322 origin was constructed. A pVAC-hEPO was also constructed, which contained a human erythropoietin gene, for evaluating the transfection efficiency of naked plasmid DNA both in vitro and in vivo. To examine the adjuvant effect of multi-CpG motifs on naked plasmid DNA, 22 and 44 enriched and unmethylated CpG motifs were introduced into pVAC to generate pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2, respectively. $100{\mu}g$ of pSecTagB, pVAC, pVAC-ISS1 or pVAC-ISS2 were each injected intramuscularly into the tibilias anterior muscle of Balb/c mice. The level of interleukin-6 induced in the mice injected with pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2 were significantly elevated after 12 hours, which were almost 2 and 2.5 times higher than that in the mice injected with pSecTagB, respectively. These results suggest that DNA vaccine plasmids with enriched CpG motifs can induce rapid secretion of interleukin-6 by lymphocytes. In conclusion, these vectors can contribute to the development of adjuvant-free DNA vaccinations against infectious diseases and various cancers.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.14
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• 2020

The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is considered suboptimal, and 1 way to improve the vaccines is using adjuvants. However, the current pool of adjuvants used in influenza vaccination is limited due to safety concerns. Aloe vera, or aloe, has been shown to have immunomodulatory functions and to be safe for oral intake. In this study, we explored the potential of orally administered processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. We first evaluated its adjuvanticity with a split-type pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Ag by subjecting the mice to lethal homologous influenza challenge. Oral PAG administration with the pH1N1 Ag increased survival rates in mice to levels similar to those of alum and MF59, which are currently used as adjuvants in influenza vaccine formulations. Similarly, oral PAG administration improved the survival of mice immunized with a commercial trivalent influenza vaccine against lethal homologous and heterologous virus challenge. PAG also increased hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization Ab titers against homologous and heterologous influenza strains following immunization with the split-type pH1N1 Ag or the commercial trivalent vaccine. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PAG may potentially be used as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2019

Mastoparan V1 was used as adjuvant of formalin-inactivated Salmonella Gallinarum whole cells vaccine against fowl typhoid in a chicken model. The 75 brown nick chickens were equally divided into 5 groups, and all chickens of each group were immunized at 6 weeks of age (0 WPPI; weeks prime post immunization), and at 9 weeks of age (3 WPPI) (except group B). Group A chickens were intramuscularly (IM) inoculated with 500 uL of sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and group B chickens were subcutaneously immunized with 0.2 ml containing 5×10⁷ viable vaccine strain/bird. The chickens in groups C~E were IM inoculated with approximately 3×10⁹ cells/0.5 mL of formalin-inactivated the S. Gallinarum whole cells, approximately 3×10⁹ cells/0.5 mL of formalin-inactivated the S. Gallinarum whole cells with mastoparan V1 as adjuvant, and 0.5 mL of PBS, respectively. S. Gallinarum outer membrane proteins-specific serum IgG titers were considerably higher in groups B~D than in groups A and E. However, the levels of IFN-γ in groups B and D only than in groups A and E were significantly higher. Following oral challenge with virulent wild-type S. Gallinarum, no chicken in groups A (no challenge group) and B was dead, and only 30% of chickens in group D was dead. However, 70% of chickens in group C and all chickens in group E were dead after oral challenge. The results of this study demonstrated that IM immunization with approximately 3×10⁹ of the formalin-inactivated S. Gallinarum whole cells containing mastoparan V1 induced robust antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in chickens. The whole cells also conferred protection against infection with wild-type S. Gallinarum.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-46
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the immune-enhancing potential of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to Alum against rabies vaccine and the related immunological, physiological, and histopathological effects. Materials and Methods: Alum and AuNPs sole and in combination with rabies vaccine were used at 0.35 mg/mL and 40 nM/mL, respectively. Rats used were categorized into six groups (20/each): control rats, rabies vaccine, aluminum phosphate gel, rabies vaccine adsorbed to Alum, AuNPs, and rabies vaccine adjuvant AuNPs. Results: Liver and kidney functions were in the normal range after AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine compared to control. Interleukin-6 and interferon-γ levels were significantly increased in groups immunized with Alum and AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine, the peak level was in the case of AuNP adjuvanted vaccine on the 14th day. Ninety days post-vaccination, total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against adjuvanted rabies vaccine showed a significantly elevated antirabies IgG with AuNPs and Alum adsorbed vaccine compared with unadjuvanted one. The total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased post-adjuvanted AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine vaccination than in Alum adsorbed vaccine, while MDA was significantly decreased. The histopathological examination revealed detectable alterations post-AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine immunization compared with liver and kidney profiles post-administration of unadjuvanted and non-immunized groups, meanwhile, splenic tissue revealed hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles indicating increased immune reactivity. Conclusion: The AuNPs are promising enhancers of the immune response as Alum, and the undesirable effects of AuNPs could be managed by using suitable sizes, shapes, and concentrations.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.232-239
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the antigenic potency and stability of tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines when combined with aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄) and liposome adjuvants. Materials and Methods: In vitro and in vivo analyses were conducted using the single radial immunodiffusion method and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Td vaccines were prepared with AlPO₄ adsorption and liposome-mediated delivery, and protein antigens were characterized using these methods. Results: The results revealed that the liposome-mediated Td vaccines exhibited higher immunogenicity compared to the AlPO₄-adsorbed Td vaccines. Additionally, the liposome-mediated Td vaccines demonstrated higher stability as native antigens. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of utilizing liposome adjuvants in vaccine development. The liposome-mediated Td vaccines showed enhanced immunogenicity and stability, making them a promising approach for improving vaccine efficacy. Understanding and optimizing adjuvant strategies can contribute to the development of effective vaccines against various diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.399-404
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• 2000

The adjuvant effect of a muramyl dipeptide (MDP) derivative, MDP-Lys(L18), on enhancing of antitumor immunity induced by X-irradiated tumor cells against highly metastatic B16-BL6 melanoma cells was examined in mice. Mice immunized intradermally (i.d.) with a mixture of X-irradiated B16-BL6 cells and MDP-Lys (L18) [Vac+MDP-Lys (L18)] followed by an intravenous (i.v.)inoculation of $10^4$ viable tumor cells 7 days after immunization, showed a significant inhibition of experimental lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells. The most effective immunization for the prophylactic inhibition of tumor metastasis was obtained from the mixture of $100{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ of MDP-Lys (L18) and $10^4$ X-irradiatied tumor vaccine. Furthermore, immunization of mice with Vac+MDP-Lys(L18), 3 days after tumor challenge, resulted in a significant inhibition of lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells in an experimental lung metastasis model. Similarly, the administration of Vac+MDP-Lys(L18), 1 or 7 days after tumor removal, markedly inhibited tumor metastasis of B16-BL6 in a spontaneous lung metastasis model. When Vac+MDP-Lys (L18) was i.d. administered 3 days after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of tumor cells ($5{\times}10^5/site$) on the back, mice treated with Vac+MDP-Lys(L18) showed inhibition of significantly tumor growth on day 20. These results suggest that MDP-Lys (L18) is able to enhance antitumor activity induced by X-irradiated tumor vaccine to reduce lung metastasis of tumor cells, and is a potent immunomodulating agent which may be applied prophylactically as well as therapeutically to treatment of cancer metastasis.