HAPTEN-CARRIER CONJUGATES WITH BACTERIAL TOXINS HAVING A SIGNAL PEPTIDE AS CARRIER AND THEIR USE IN IMMUNOGENIC COMPOSITIONS

摘要

This invention relates to immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response against an antigen of interest. In particular, the invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising an antigen-carrier conjugate, wherein the carrier is a bacterial toxin that contains a signal peptide. The invention also provides methods of generating immunogenic compositions with enhanced immunogenicity, comprising adding a signal peptide to the bacterial carrier in an antigen-carrier conjugate, such as a hapten-carrier conjugate. The invention also provides methods for inducing an immune response to a hapten in a subject using these immunogenic compositions.