The cytokine responses of novel chimera vaccine formulations against HTLV-۱

In our investigation, the cytokine responses of HTLV-۱ fusion epitope were evaluated in the absence or presence of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) or ISCOMATRIX (IMX) adjuvants through subcutaneous (SC) or nasal administration in a mice model. The IMX nanoparticles were synthesized by the lipid film hydration technique and were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study demonstrated that the physical mixture of IMX and fusion epitope significantly enhanced the level of IFN-γ and IL-۱۰ cytokines and also decreased TGF-β۱ titer, relative to the other formulations including chimera solution or a mixture of MPLA and chimera. Additionally, the SC or nasal delivery of various vaccine formulations could shift the immunity toward cell-mediated responses, as evident by IFN-γ, and suppress the TGF-β۱ level. Therefore, the proper design of vaccine formulation and immunization strategy are crucial factors to construct an efficient vaccine. This study recommends using the IMX as an efficient adjuvant in peptide vaccine delivery to stimulate potent immune responses against viral pathogens.