The B-cell targeted CTA1-DD vaccine adjuvant is highly effective at enhancing antibody as well as CTL responses

A novel immunomodulating gene-fusion protein, CTA1-DD, has been developed which combines the ADP-ribosylating ability of cholera toxin (CT) with a dimer of an Ig-binding fragment, D, of Staphylococcus aureus protein A. The CTA1-DD adjuvant is non-toxic and greatly augmented T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent responses to soluble admixed antigens after systemic as well as mucosal immunizations. CTL and antibody responses of all classes were increased by 10- to 100-fold above those observed in control mice immunized without adjuvant. CTA1-DD does not appear to form immune complexes or bind to soluble Ig following injection, but rather it binds directly to B-cells of all isotypes, including naïve IgD+ cells. No binding was observed to macrophages or dendritic cells, and immunizations in Fc gamma R-deficient mice demonstrated unaltered enhancing effects. As shown by inactive mutants, the CTA1-DD adjuvant is dependent on ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and requires the binding to Ig- via the DD moiety. The enhancing effect is associated with enlarged germinal centers, and binding of CTA1-DD to the B-cells strongly upregulates co-stimulatory molecules and counteracts apoptosis by inducing intracellular Bcl-2.