Use of IL-12 and an antigen of a pathogen to stimulate neonatal immunity

摘要

Administration of IL-12 to a neonatal host enhances immunity and induces memory for protective responses. It is also known that exposure of the neonate to antigens induces a specific immunological tolerance to those antigens. Proposed is the use of IL-12 and an antigen of a pathogen for inducing an enhanced immune response to the pathogen in a neonatal host, and priming the neonatal host for a memory response to the pathogen as an adult.