[A comparison of commercially available adjuvants in BALB/c-mice immunised with a weekly immunogenic peptide] [Article in German]

Abstract

The antibody-stimulating activities and side effects of commercially available adjuvants were compared in BALB/c mice immunised with the immunosuppressive (ISU) peptide of HIV I. Clinical and pathological-histological parameters as well as behavioural changes, were used to assess the distress and pain caused to the animals. Complete Freund´s Adjuvant (FAk) was used as the positive control and PBS as the negative control. The oil-based adjuvants Montanide ISA 51® (M 51), Specol®, and Hunter´s TiterMax Gold® (HTMG) were used with the ISU-peptide conjugated to KLH. The water-soluble Gerbu Adjuvant® was administered together with the antigen KLH conjugate and also with the ISU-peptide conjugated to cholera toxin B subunit (ChTxB). The Dutch "Code of Practice" was used as a guideline for all immunisations. No changes in animal activity or behaviour was observed in any of the groups. All the oil-based adjuvants gave rise to swellings and encapsulations, which were most pronounced in the HTMG-group. Although body weight increased throughout the study, no increase was seen in any adjuvant group for a short period after each booster immunisation, nor after the first immunisation in the HTMG group. FAk induced a light fever after all immunisations. FAk, Specol and M 51 as well as Gerbu-ChTxB induced antibody titres which were detectable in the ELISA, but no detectable antibody the water-soluble adjuvants or following administration of HTMG applied with the ISU-peptide-KLH conjugate.