lipid-a and Leprosy

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a well-defined agonist of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 that activates innate immune responses and influences the development of the adaptive response during infection with Gram-negative bacteria. Many years ago, Dr. Edgar Ribi separated the adjuvant activity of LPS from its toxic effects, an effort that led to the development of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). MPL, derived from Salmonella minnesota R595, has progressed through clinical development and is now used in various product-enabling formulations to support the generation of antigen-specific responses in several commercial and preclinical vaccines. We have generated several synthetic lipid A molecules, foremost glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA) and second-generation lipid adjuvant (SLA), and have advanced these to clinical trial for various indications. In this review we summarize the potential and current positioning of TLR4-based adjuvant formulations in approved and emerging vaccines.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Alum Compounds; Animals; Glucosides; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunity, Humoral; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Leishmaniasis; Leprosy; Lipid A; Liposomes; Malaria; Mice; Schistosomiasis; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Tuberculosis; Vaccines

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Bacterial; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Vaccines; Ethanolamines; Female; Freund's Adjuvant; Leprosy; Lipid A; Lipopolysaccharides; Lipoproteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mycobacterium leprae; Recombinant Proteins; Vaccination; Vaccines, Subunit; Vaccines, Synthetic