Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
07:05
In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-specific T-cell Cytolytic Function Using a Vaccination Model
Published on: November 28, 2017
In vivo activity of cationic immune stimulating complexes (PLUSCOMs)
Warren T McBurney1, Dirk G Lendemans, Julia Myschik
1School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Vaccine
|July 1, 2008
Summary
Cationic ISCOM derivatives (PLUSCOMs) effectively incorporate antigens and elicit robust T cell responses, matching classic ISCOMs. PLUSCOMs offer advantages for delivering anionic antigens in vaccine development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- ISCOMs (Immunostimulating Complexes) are established vaccine delivery systems.
- Cationic ISCOM derivatives (PLUSCOMs) were developed as an alternative delivery platform.
- Evaluating antigen incorporation and T cell responses is crucial for vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cationic PLUSCOMs with classic anionic ISCOMs for antigen attachment.
- To assess the in vivo T cell-mediated immune response elicited by PLUSCOMs and ISCOMs.
- To determine the advantages of PLUSCOMs for delivering model protein antigens.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of antigen (ovalbumin [OVA]) adsorption onto PLUSCOMs versus ISCOMs.
- Measurement of zeta-potential to assess antigen binding and charge neutralization.
- In vivo vaccination of mice and subsequent ex vivo T cell restimulation assays.
- Quantification of INF-gamma production as a marker of T cell response.
Main Results:
- Hydrophilic OVA did not incorporate into ISCOMs, but readily adsorbed onto PLUSCOMs.
- Increasing OVA load on PLUSCOMs reduced their zeta-potential, indicating charge neutralization.
- Both PLUSCOMs and ISCOMs induced antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses in mice.
- T cells from mice vaccinated with PLUSCOMs or ISCOMs showed enhanced response to OVA challenge compared to OVA in solution.
- Particulate vaccine formulations significantly increased INF-gamma production.
Conclusions:
- PLUSCOMs are as effective as classic ISCOMs in inducing antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses.
- PLUSCOMs demonstrate superior antigen incorporation capabilities, particularly for anionic antigens.
- This suggests PLUSCOMs offer a promising platform for developing advanced particulate vaccines.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Overview
01:19Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions
Type III hypersensitivity reactions occur when antigen–antibody complexes form and activate the complement system. Normally, these complexes help the clearance of antigens by phagocytes and red blood cells. However, when large numbers of immune complexes are present, they can deposit in tissues—particularly in the walls of blood vessels—leading to inflammation and tissue injury. These deposits trigger complement activation and neutrophil recruitment, resulting in serum sickness, a systemic...
01:22Immunocytochemistry and Immunohistochemistry
Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) are techniques that use antibodies to check for specific proteins or antigens in a sample. The technique was first published by Albert Coons in 1941 to detect the presence of pneumococcal antigen in tissue sections from mice infected with Pneumococcus. Immunocytochemistry helps localization of proteins or antigens in individual cells like blood cells, stem cells, etc., while immunohistochemistry does the same for tissue samples.
These...
These...
01:27Complement System
The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a membrane...