ENCAPSULATED IMMUNOMODULATORS USEFUL AS VACCINE ADJUVANTS

摘要

The present invention concerns compositions comprising an encapsulated immunomodulator, such as cytokines and lymphokines, that is useful as an adjuvant for stimulating an immune response when administered to a human or animal. For example, a lymphokine such as IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta can be used as an immunomodulator encapsulated in a matrix according to the invention. The encapsulated composition can include a vaccine antigen, such as whole inactivated or attenuated virus, recombinant or synthetic peptides, and other antigenic materials. The encapsulation matrix can be natural or synthetic. The present invention also pertains to the use of an encapsulated immunomodulator in a human or animal as an adjuvant to increase immune responses to an antigen or other material to which an immune response is desired.