Immunological properties of synthetic sugar-polypeptide conjugates. Effect of N-lauroyl-glucosamine residues on immunogenicity

Effect of carrier on the immunogenic capacity of synthetic cholera vaccine

In the design of the synthetic antigens and synthetic vaccines, primary consideration should be given to the choice of the carrier. Since small peptides which are being used as the relevant antigenic determinants are likely to be poor immunogens as such, the augmentation of their immunogenic capacity by the carrier or any other means is crucial for the induction of immunity. In the present study, we explored several approaches for the enhancement of the immune response towards synthetic peptides derived from the B-subunit of cholera toxin. The results indicate that the use of tetanus toxoid as a macromolecular carrier, polymerization of the peptide without any external carrier and the conjugation of dipalmityl side chain had comparable effects in enhancing the immune response to several synthetic peptides. This effect was manifested both at the level of antibodies produced and in their capacity to neutralize the biological activity of the cholera toxin. Prior exposure to the carrier resulted in a dose-dependent suppression against the synthetic epitope attached to it.

Preparation, properties, and applications of carbohydrate conjugates of proteins and lipids

As a result of the growing awareness of the involvement of the oligosaccharide moieties of glycoproteins and glycolipids in cell surface recognition and binding phenomena, a wide variety of methods have been developed, many quite recently, for preparing glycoconjugates. The chemical methods used for the attachment of sugars and certain hydrophilic polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol) are discussed, as are the effects of such modifications on various properties of the protein (immune response, thermal stability and resistance to proteolysis, clearance, and specific binding to cell surface receptors). Enzymatic approaches to glycoconjugate preparation are also considered, and several examples are given of the preparation of model glycolipids, useful in studying cell surface phenomena. In a final section, three areas are considered in which rapid advances seem likely to occur: improved methods for the preparation of glycoconjugates; direct modification of cell surface glycoconjugates; and modification for the purpose of studying location and environment of membrane glycoconjugates.

The preparation of carbohydrate-protein conjugates: cyanuric trichloride coupling of 2-aminoethyl glycosides, and mixed-anhydride coupling of 8-carboxyoctyl glycosides to bovine serum albumin

Preparation of the following glycosides is described: 2-aminoethyl beta-D-glycosides of (A) 2-acetamido-3,4,6-trio-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose, (B) 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-trio-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (N,N'-diacetylchitobiose pentaacetate), (C) 4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2,3,6-trio-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (cellobiose heptaacetate); 8-carboxyoctyl glycosides of (D) cellobiose, and (E) N,N'-diacetylchitobiose. Conjugates were prepared from (A), (B), and (C) by coupling to bovine serum albumin by cyanuric trichloride and subsequent deacetylation; (D) and (E) were coupled to bovine serum albumin by the mixed-anhydride reaction. Conjugates (A) and (B) were insoluble; conjugates (C), (D), and (E) functioned as artificial antigens and gave rise to precipitating antibodies in rabbits. Specificities of the antisera were determined by inhibition studies.