Adjuvant for vaccine composition

Abstract

An amphipathic compound including a sterol-derived lipophilic grouping bound to a cationic grouping for use as an adjuvant in the delivery of a vaccine composition. In a particular embodiment, the lipophilic grouping is a cholesterol derivative and the cationic grouping is a quaternary ammonium or a protonatable amine. A vaccine composition including one or more antigens with at least one amphipathic compound having a sterol-derived lipophilic grouping bound to a cationic grouping, is also disclosed.

1 . A composition comprising at least one proteinaceous antigen and an adjuvanting amount of 3-β-(N-(N′-N′-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoy 1 ) cholesterol.  
     
     
         2 . The vaccine composition of  claim 1  further comprising a neutral lipid.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the said neutral lipid to f 3-B-(N-(N′-N′-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoy 1 ) cholesterol is greater than 1:4.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said neutral lipid is ioleolyphosphatidylethanolamine or dioleoylphosphatidylcholine.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said 3-β-(N-(N′-N′-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoy 1 ) cholesterol is dispersed in an aqueous environment in the form of liposomes.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said 3-β-(N-(N′-N′-dimethlaminoethane)carbamoy 1 ) cholesterol takes the form of liposomes including at least one antigen.  
     
     
         7 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering the vaccine composition of claim 1  to a mammal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said immune response is a cytotoxic T cell response.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said immune response is a T 1 -type immune response.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said antigen is an influenza virus haemagglutinin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said composition is administered by the subcutaneous route.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said composition is administered by the mucosal route.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said composition is administered by the intranasal route.  
     
     
         15 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering the vaccine composition of.  claim 2  to a mammal.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said antigen is an influenza virus haemagglutinin.  
     
     
         17 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering the vaccine composition of  claim 3  to a mammal.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said antigen is an influenza virus haemagglutinin.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inducing an immune response in a mammal comprising administering the vaccine composition of  claim 4  to a mammal.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said antigen is an influenza virus haemagglutinin.