Adjuvantix Technology
Adjuvantix has demonstrated that antibodies against the cell surface receptors CD40 (present on B- and T-lymphocytes, respectively) conjugated to antigen have a very potent adjuvant effect, and give enhanced antibody and cell mediated immunity even at low antigen dosage. The antibodies against CD40 replace the stimulatory signal received by these receptors in the course of a natural immune response.
The immune response to microbial invaders requires co-operation between three different cell types in the immune system: i.e. T and B-lymphocytes, plus antigen presenting cells (APC) (Fig.1). Once inside an APC, the microbe is degraded into peptide fragments (represented by pink triangles). These fragments are presented by the APC in such a way as to stimulate T-cells. The same microbe-derived materials are simultaneously taken up and processed by antigen-specific B-cells. When stimulated by an appropriately displayed peptide fragment on an APC, antigen-specific T cells signal to B-cells to differentiate into ‘plasma cells’ (which produce the specific antibodies required to neutralise the pathogen). Whereas conventional adjuvant materials act by stimulation of APC, Adjuvantix’ rational adjuvant technologies mimic the reciprocal stimulation of T and B-cells, through replacement of the CD154 signal with an antibody that binds to CD40.