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Review
. 2020 Oct 14;12(10):965.
doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12100965.

Carbohydrate Immune Adjuvants in Subunit Vaccines

Sahra Bashiri  1 , Prashamsa Koirala  1 , Istvan Toth  1   2   3 , Mariusz Skwarczynski  1
Affiliations
Review

Carbohydrate Immune Adjuvants in Subunit Vaccines

Sahra Bashiri et al. Pharmaceutics. .

Abstract

Modern subunit vaccines are composed of antigens and a delivery system and/or adjuvant (immune stimulator) that triggers the desired immune responses. Adjuvants mimic pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are typically associated with infections. Carbohydrates displayed on the surface of pathogens are often recognized as PAMPs by receptors on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Consequently, carbohydrates and their analogues have been used as adjuvants and delivery systems to promote antigen transport to APCs. Carbohydrates are biocompatible, usually nontoxic, biodegradable, and some are mucoadhesive. As such, carbohydrates and their derivatives have been intensively explored for the development of new adjuvants. This review assesses the immunological functions of carbohydrate ligands and their ability to enhance systemic and mucosal immune responses against co-administered antigens. The role of carbohydrate-based adjuvants/delivery systems in the development of subunit vaccines is discussed in detail.

Keywords: adjuvants; carbohydrates; immunostimulation; peptide/protein subunit vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The basic uptake pathways of antigens (e.g., endocytosis and phagocytosis) by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to induce immune responses.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The simplified pathway of mucosal immunity.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mannosylated peptide/protein-based vaccine constructs: (a) antigenic peptide/protein conjugated to mannose; (b) mannose conjugated to a polymer/lipid-based nanocapsule.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The branched and linear forms of mannan.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of the chemical structures of chitin, chitosan, and TMC.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The chemical structure of hyaluronic acid.
Figure 7
Figure 7
An exemplary structure of lipid A (R = PO3OH2) and MPLA (R = H).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Example of saponin (QS-21) with the four major typical structural domains.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The chemical structure of α-GalCer.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Example of muramyl dipeptide (MDP).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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