USE OF CAPSULAR NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS POLYSACCHARIDES AS MUCOSAL IMMUNOPOTENTIATORS AND RESULTING FORMULATIONS

摘要

The invention relates to the use of capsular polysaccharides of different Neisseria meningitidis serogroups as immunopotentiating and immunomodulating agents which can be used to develop vaccines. According to the invention, the polysaccharides are administered in order to increase the immune response to heterologous antigens that have been co-administered mucosally. In this way, multiple formulations comprising capsular N. meningitidis polysaccharides and heterologous antigens are obtained, which, when administered mucosally, produce immunogenicity levels similar to those obtained following the parenteral administration of similar combinations. Using the aforementioned polysaccharides as immunopotentiators dispenses with the use of other mucosal adjuvants. Said novel use of capsular N. meningitidis polysaccharides and the resulting antigen formulations are suitable for use in the pharmaceutical industry as preventive or therapeutic vaccine formulations.