A multiple antigen lipophilic adjuvant carrier (MALAC) system

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We have developed a Multiple-Antigen-Lipophilic-Adjuvant-Carrier (MALAC) system, based on the incorporation of lipoamino acids into a poly-functional core that provides an excellent means for enhancing the antigenicity of a potential peptide vaccine. A system is used for generating antibodies without the use of any conventional adjuvant. The system comprises two or more different antigens and one or more lipid anchor. The key of this system is a novel carrier construct, which is non-toxic and non-immunogenic. The system contains variables, which allow optimising its structural configuration. A small library of poly-functional MALAC system will be synthesised in a controlled step-by-step way combining solution or solid phase techniques, where the exact chemical structure (and the order of the different immunological peptide sequences) of the construct is pre-determined. The antigenicity and the protection against disease will be compared with antigenicity and protection generated using conventional vaccine carriers. We also aim to exploit the particulate-forming properties of the lipo-peptide amphiphiles, to form micro-particulate oral antigens, exploiting the phenomenon of particulate uptake from the GI tract by the GALT or other intestinal sites. The MALAC constructs will be administered orally followed by the measurement of the serum IgG. Vaccination via the oral route is highly desirable, since it can overcome many of the disadvantages inherent in administration by injection - e.g. poor patient acceptability, requirement of skilled medical personnel, risk of HIV and other blood-born diseases, restricted availability and sometimes, stimulation of the wrong type of immunity. Development of vaccines for oral administration make them much more widely available, permitting self-administration and improving the operation of Public-Health vaccination programs, particularly in developing countries.