Abstract
Background
Acellular pertussis vaccines are better tolerated but less immunogenic than older whole cell vaccines. Novel adjuvants may be useful to enhance their immunogenicity. First-generation natural saponins are potent immuno-enhancers but are highly reactogenic. The novel semisynthetic saponin TQL1055 was evaluated for its potential to enhance the immunogenicity of a commercially available acellular pertussis vaccine as part of a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) funded project.
Methods
Groups of 10 female C57BL/6J mice were immunized subcutaneously (SC) with Adacel® (containing 0.5 mcg pertussis toxin antigen) alone or in combination with QS-21 at 20 mcg/dose or TQL1055 at 50 mcg/dose on Days 0 and 28. Serum antibody titer to pertussis antigen was determined by ELISA (Alpha Diagnostics) at Days 0, 28, and 42 and geometric mean titers (GMT) in IU/mL were determined. Body weights were measured serially for 7 days after dose 1.
Results
At 28 days following dose 1, mice receiving TQL1055 had an anti-pertussis toxin IgG GMT of 8492, compared with 2263 in mice receiving QS-21 (p = 0.005). At Day 42, 14 days after dose 2, the GMTs increased to 18719 in the TQL1055 group and 10851 in the QS-21 group (p = 0.0653 vs TQL1055 dose 2; p = 0.6038 vs TQL1055 dose 1). Mice in the Adacel and TQL1055 groups gained weight steadily after dose 1, while mice in the QS-21 group had an average weight loss of 10% from baseline at 3 days after dose 1 (p < 0.0001).
Figure 1: TQL1055 Enhances the Antibody Response to Adacel® (Commercial Acellular Pertussis Vaccine) in C57BL/6J Female Mice
Figure 2: TQL1055 Shows Enhanced Tolerability (measured by decreased weight loss) Compared to QS-21 Following Subcutaneous Injection in C57BL/6J Female Mice
Conclusion
TQL1055 enhanced the antibody response to a commercial acellular pertussis vaccine to a greater degree than QS-21. Additionally, TQL1055 was better tolerated than QS-21, with no weight loss after vaccination. These findings suggested that TQL1055 may improve the performance of acellular pertussis vaccines without an increase in reactogenicity.
Disclosures
Chloe Buzz, BS, Adjuvance Technologies (Employee) Sean R. Bennett, MD PhD, Adjuvance Technologies (Employee) Phil Livingston, MD, Adjuvance Technologies (Consultant, Shareholder) Eric Farris, PhD, Adjuvance Technologies (Employee) Tyler Martin, MD, Adjuvance Technologies (Employee, Shareholder)
Pertussis-Specific Memory B-Cell and Humoral IgG Responses in Adolescents after a Fifth Consecutive Dose of Acellular Pertussis Vaccine