Design, synthesis, and immunologic evaluation of vaccine adjuvant conjugates based on QS-21 and tucaresol.

ABSTRACT: Immunoadjuvants are used to potentiate the activity of modern subunit vaccines that are based on molecular antigens. An emerging approach involves the combination of multiple adjuvants in a single formulation to achieve optimal vaccine efficacy. Herein, to investigate such potential synergies, we synthesized novel adjuvant conjugates based on the saponin natural product QS-21 and the aldehyde tucaresol via chemoselective acylation of an amine at the terminus of the acyl chain domain in QS saponin variants. In a preclinical mouse vaccination model, these QS saponin-tucaresol conjugates induced antibody responses similar to or slightly higher than those generated with related QS saponin variants lacking the tucaresol motif. The conjugates retained potent adjuvant activity, low toxicity, and

SUBMITTER: Fernandez-Tejada A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4410046 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature