Assays for adjuvanticity of new formulations and of carrier proteins for inducing antibody responses to selected immunogens in the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus

Summary Different ways to improve antibody (Ab) responses following immunizations with selected antigens (TT and HSVgD) were investigated, and thus new adjuvant formulations and carrier molecules in a non‐human primate experimental host, the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus , were assayed. Both quantitative and qualitative humoral responses were determined by means of radio‐immunoassays using monoclonal Ab directed at Saimiri IgG. First, the adjuvanticity of the Syntex (SAF‐1) adjuvant and of five new adjuvant formulations were assessed towards the selected Ag. This indicated that all the adjuvants induced similar antigen‐specific Ab responses, although the adjuvants could modify to some extent the pattern of the qualitative Ab response. Second, we evaluated an adjuvant‐free vaccine approach using a synthetic Ag from the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum as immunogen, this Ag being coupled to purified protein derivative (PPD) or to a recombinant heat shock protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These constructs led to good antibody responses as well as an excellent memory effect. Bacille Calmette‐Guerin (BCG) priming was required in conjunction with PPD as a carrier molecule to allow homogeneous Ab responses, whereas the heat shock protein construct gave a less homogeneous Ab response regardless of whether a BCG priming was done. We, in addition, discuss the relevance of Saimiri monkeys as experimental models for studies directed at evaluating the immunogenicity of further vaccine candidates.