Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/385—Haptens or antigens, bound to carriers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/02—Bacterial antigens
  • A61K39/095—Neisseria
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/02—Bacterial antigens
  • A61K39/099—Bordetella
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/04—Antibacterial agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
  • A61K2039/55505—Inorganic adjuvants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/60—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characteristics by the carrier linked to the antigen
  • A61K2039/6031—Proteins
  • A61K2039/6068—Other bacterial proteins, e.g. OMP
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/70—Multivalent vaccine
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
  • Y02A50/30—Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Definitions

• the present invention relates to vaccines containing Bordetella pertussis antigen, to conjugate vaccines, to methods of conjugating carrier and immunising components to form a vaccine conjugate and to use of a conjugate vaccine for vaccination of humans and animals, and also to oral vaccines against pertussis.
• carbohydrate capsule which is an essential virulence component.
• the carbohydrate capsules are potential vaccine components since antibodies directed against them are usually protective by virtue of their complement-mediated bactericidal activity.
• Antibodies raised against the carbohydrate are specific for the particular serogroup from which the carbohydrate was obtained; there is one major pathogenic serogroup for Haemophilus influenzae, four major serogroups for Neisseria meningitidis and over 80 serogroups for a Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• capsular vaccines are T-cell independent antigens and hence the immune response they raise is low (especially in infants), short-lived, unboostable and has an affinity which does not mature.
• the antigens can be converted to T-cell dependency by conjugation to proteins which enhance the immune response, including providing a memory response.
• Hib Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Another difficulty relates to the practicalities of increasing the number and complexity of vaccines for paediatric immunisation.
• Vaccine manufacturers have been successful in producing combinations of paediatric vaccines which can be delivered simultaneously from one syringe, thus simplifying immunisation programmes.
• the prospect of re-introducing multiple injections with all of the corresponding problems of increasingly complex vaccination programmes is likely to occur unless suitable alternative delivery systems (e.g. to mucosal surfaces) are introduced.
• conjugate vaccine for presentation of an immunogenic carbohydrate in a conjugate which can be used in parallel with or subsequently to existing toxoid based vaccines with amelioration or reduction of the problems and potential problems hitherto encountered.
• a further object is to provide a carrier protein that is an alternative to the existing toxoid carriers, for manufacture of a conjugate vaccine.
• a still further object is to provide vaccines that can be used for vaccination against more than one pathogen in a single vaccine formulation.
• a first aspect of the invention provides a conjugate, for use in a vaccine, comprising an antigen conjugated to a carrier selected from (i) a fimbria of Bordetella pertussis, (ii) a pertussis toxin, (iii) a pertussis toxoid, and (iv) pertussis 69kD protein.
• the antigen is suitably an antigenic component of a pathogenic bacteria or virus, in which context "antigen" is to be understood to encompass variants, derivatives and fragments of an antigenic component of a pathogenic bacteria or virus such that immunisation with the antigen results in protective immunity against that pathogenic organism.
• Bordetella pertussis fimbriae can be purified from culture of Bordetella pertussis (for example, EP-A-0231083 describes purification of pertussis antigens), or can be produced by recombinant techniques, and consequently reference to a fimbria of Bordetella pertussis is to be understood as a reference to a fimbria whether derived by purification of natural fimbriae or by recombinant expression of DNA encoding fimbriae, and is also to be understood to encompass variants, derivatives and fragments of fimbriae which are nevertheless recognised as being variants, derivatives or fragments of Bordetella pertussis fimbriae, as immunisation with such variants, derivatives or fragments results in induction of antibodies that are protective against challenge by Bordetella pertussis.
• fimbriae in the range 10 ⁇ g-50//g is a typical vaccinating dose.
• Purification and characterisation of fimbriae isolated from B. ertussis is also described by Zhang et al in Infection and Immunity, May 1 985, pp 422-427, and by Robinson et al in Vaccine, vol. 7, August 1 989 pp 31 2 onwards.
• the carrier is conjugated to the antigen using a C6 spacer, in which the fimbriae are first derivatised and then added to a solution of antigen. It is also an option for the antigen first to be derivatised and this can be of advantage when the antigen is liable to be damaged by the derivatisation conditions, which typically include variations in pH.
• a bifunctional group is introduced so as to link the two together.
• an animal is immunised with a vaccine comprising the immunogenic conjugate and is protected against challenge by the pathogenic organism from which the antigen component of the conjugate has been derived.
• protection is acknowledged by survival against a challenge with a lethal dose of the pathogenic organism, or by extended life expectancy in response to challenge with such a lethal dose. Protection is also acknowledged by a patient being less affected, less ill, following challenge by a sub-lethal dose of pertussis.
• the invention is of advantage in that it provides an alternative carrier molecule for preparation of immunogenic conjugates for presentation of an antigen in combination with a T-cell epitope.
• the immune response to the immunogenic conjugate of the invention is enhanced compared with the immune response against isolated antigen, thus improving the efficiency compared with vaccination by antigen alone.
• the invention also provides an alternative to the existing toxoid carriers, and therefore overcomes the problem of toxoid overload which can occur with extended and repeated uses of vaccines containing these toxoids.
• a further advantage of using pertussis fimbriae as a component of the conjugate is that they do not require detoxification prior to incorporation into a vaccine.
• Detoxification which is required for the diphtheria and tetanus toxins used in the art, can alter the immunological properties of the protein.
• a still further advantage is that fimbriae from Bordetella pertussis also confer or enhance projective immunity against Bordetella pertussis, a paediatrically relevant pathogen, and thus a conjugate comprising fimbriae induces a dual immune response.
• the existing paediatric immunisation programme includes immunisation with DTP vaccine, conferring protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in a single vaccine.
• the invention opens the possibility of incorporating a fourth component, which fourth component could be, for example, antigen conferring immunity against Haemophilus influenzae, into this three-component vaccine, by incorporating a conjugate vaccine according to the invention which confers immunity against both pertussis and a fourth pathogenic organism.
• Pertussis toxoid is a further alternative component of the conjugate of the invention and offers the potential to act as an antigen carrier without contributing to the risk of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid overload experienced with prior art carriers, pertussis toxoid also offers vaccination against both the antigen and pertussis itself.
• Pertussis toxin another alternative carrier, is optionally denatured or otherwise treated so as to render it non-toxic prior to administration to a patient. This step may be carried out prior to conjugation to antigen or after conjugation. Alternatively, toxin is used in a conjugate vaccine at a low, non-toxic dose.
• 69kD protein another alternative carrier, is optionally produced by purification from culture or by recombinant means, and reference to 69kD protein is understood to encompass variants, derivatives and fragments of the protein that retain the essential immunogenicity of the intact protein.
• the conjugate of the invention comprises an antigen.
• the source or nature of the antigen is not limited to any particular sub-group of antigens, and indeed it is possible that the antigen in isolation is not immunogenic, but only becomes immunogenic which incorporated into the conjugate of the invention.
• Suitable antigens include carbohydrates, polysaccharides, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, proteins, peptides, glycopeptides, lipopolysaccharides and similar and related molecules.
• the antigen will be, or will be derived from, a component of a bacteria or virus which appears on an outer surface of the bacteria or virus, such as a component of the bacterial cell wall, or a component of a fimbria or cilia or flagella, or a component of the outer envelope of a virus, a specific example of which is the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.
• the antigen can be a component of or derived from Bordetella bronchiseptica , Clostndium tetani, Cytomegalovirus, Dengue virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Flavivirus, Hepatitis A, B, C, D or E virus, Herpes Simplex virus, Influenza virus, JEV, Measles virus, Mumps virus, Mycobacteria tuberculosis, Rotavirus, Rubella virus, TBE, Vibrio cholerae, Haemophilus Influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus A, B.parapertussis, HIV, HPV, polio virus, Brucella, Y.pestis, Helicobacter pylori , B. burgdorfeii, malaria and RSV though the invention is not to be construed as limited just to this sub-group of antigens.
• the antigenic conjugate comprises a carrier of the invention, such as a fimbria from Bordetella pertussis, conjugated to two different antigens.
• the conjugate is thus of use in conferring or enhancing protective immunity against pertussis, and also against each of the two different pathogenic organisms from which the different antigens conjugated to the fimbria are obtained or derived.
• An immunogenic conjugate of the invention thus optionally comprises a fimbria of Bordetella pertussis to which Meningococcal C polysaccharide and Hib capsular carbohydrate have both been conjugated. This embodiment of the invention can therefore be used to confer protective immunity against three pathogenic organisms.
• An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that multiple immunities can be conferred via a single vaccine component, avoiding the need to prepare mixtures of individual vaccines and reducing the need for repeated and complex vaccination schedules using vaccines conferring immunity against just a single organism.
• This embodiment of the invention is made possible by the physical structure of fimbriae which are long, multimeric molecules containing multiple locations at which antigens can conveniently be coupled.
• the conjugates of the invention are suitable for incorporation into microparticles for delivery via a large variety of routes including oral delivery.
• the preparation of such microparticles is described in EP-A-02661 1 9, EP-A-0333523 and EP-A-0706792, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• a further embodiment of the invention comprises a mixture of two immunogenic conjugates, each conjugate comprising a different pertussis fimbria type conjugated to the same or to a different antigen.
• the invention also provides a method of preparing a conjugate of a carrier selected from (i) a fimbria of Bordetella pertussis, (ii) a pertussis toxin, (Hi) a pertussis toxoid and (iv) pertussis 69kD protein with an antigen, the method comprising the steps of combining a preparation of the carrier with an antigen preparation so as covalently to conjugate the antigen to the carrier and thereafter recovering the conjugate from the mixture.
• Conjugation is based on primary amine groups in the carrier molecule and thus conjugation of the carrier to the antigen is possible wherever these amine groups are available on the surface of the carrier. Where two or more such groups are available so a conjugate of carrier plus two antigens is possible.
• lyophilised fimbriae are dissolved in a solution of antigen, which solution is then maintained at reduced temperature for an extended period of time so as to allow conjugation of the antigen to the fimbriae.
• an amount of fimbriae are dissolved in acidic buffer, stabilised, dialysed and then lyophilised.
• the antigen is prepared by dissolving the antigen in a suitable buffer and then the lyophilised fimbriae are added to that buffer, the resulting mixture is dialysed for an extended period of time and then the mixture is lyophilised and immunogenic conjugate recovered.
• the invention relates also to use of the immunogenic conjugate of the invention, and thus the invention also provides use of the conjugate of the invention in manufacture of a medicament for vaccination of humans or animals against a pathogenic organism from which the antigen is derived or obtained.
• the invention also provides a method of vaccination of humans or animals comprising administration to the human or animal of an effective immunising amount of the conjugate of the invention.
• Vaccines incorporating the immunogenic conjugate of the invention can be formulated according to techniques that are standard in this art, and the vaccines can comprise conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients with which the skilled person will be familiar.
• the immunogenic conjugates of the present invention may be prepared according to any conventional techniques for the covalent conjugating of antigens to carrier molecules and the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific methods of conjugation that have been described and which are exemplified below.
• a second aspect of the invention provides a vaccine against pertussis, comprising an oral formulation of a fimbria of Bordetella pertussis in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• the meaning and ambit of reference to fimbria is as for the first aspect of the invention.
• the invention also provides a method of vaccinating against pertussis by administering fimbriae or fimbriae-antigen conjugate orally, and to use of fimbriae or fimbriae-antigen conjugate in manufacture of a medicament for oral vaccination against pertussis.
• fimbriae or fimbriae-antigen conjugate are formulated with a particulate carrier, typically being adsorbed onto or conjugated to the outside of the particles.
• a particulate carrier typically being adsorbed onto or conjugated to the outside of the particles.
• Polymers such as PLG and mineral particles may be used.
• Bordetella pertussis fimbriae are adsorbed onto particles of 10 microns or less in diameter.
• a suspension of mineral particles of 10 microns or less in diameter is suitable. Following oral administration uptake of these particles onto which have been absorbed fimbriae or fimbriae-antigen conjugate may occur via the Peyer's patches in the intestine.
• an oral vaccinating composition comprises a colloidal suspension of alum onto which has been adsorbed fimbriae according to the invention.
• the oral vaccine can be substantially free of antigenic or immunizing components other than the fimbriae or fimbriae-antigen conjugate.
• Alum is a very known vaccine adjuvant, and to date exclusively used by injection. The inventors have found that when alum plus fimbriae are given orally a good immune response is obtained. The antibody response produced is enough to give protection and that protection includes both a serum response and a mucosal response. It is known in the art that systemic injection of vaccine gives a good serum response, principally IgG. It has been found that oral vaccination according to the second aspect of the invention gives both an IgG response and also an IgA response. This is significant because IgA appears on mucosal surfaces, which are the entry point for most pathogens.
• the stomach of the patient is pre-neutralised, so that acid activated proteases do not destroy the vaccine components.
• the vaccine of the invention is formulated so as to comprise an effective amount of a compound to neutralize stomach acid.
• a vaccinating composition is formulated using bicarbonate buffer, specifically of strength 0.1 M, having a pH in the range 8.2-8.5, though other acid- neutralising solutions would also be expected to be suitable for the compositions of the invention.
• a further option is for an acid-neutralising pharmaceutical to be administered prior to administration of the vaccine formulation.
• an animal is administered orally with a formulation of the invention, and optionally is subsequently administered a booster dose of a formulation of the invention, and is thereby protected against pertussis.
• M cells in the gut take up paniculate material, as part of a continuous gut content testing process, and pass their contents to lymph nodes and finally on to macrophages where the immune response is based. It is thought that alum particles pass into the M cells and thus join the chain leading to an immune response; though the applicant does not wish to be bound by this theory.
• An oral vaccine of an embodiment of the invention comprises a suspension of a carrier adapted for passage or other transport to antigen presenting cells and fimbriae.
• alum is the carrier a formulation as currently used in the art for injection is suitable.
• a flavouring or sweetening agent is an optional addition.
• the vaccine of the second aspect of the invention may also include a preservative, or an excipient which assists in freeze-drying the vaccine for easy, room temperature storage.
• Fig. 1 shows serum anti-polysaccharide antibody responses from mice immunised on day 0, 14 and 28 with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), fimbriae (Fim) or fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate (Fim Conj) and tested for specific anti- polysaccharide antibodies on day 42;
• PBS phosphate-buffered saline
• Fim fimbriae
• Fim Conj fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate
• Fig. 2 shows the serum anti-fimbriae antibody responses from mice immunised with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), fimbriae (Fim) or fimbriae- polysaccharide conjugate (Fim Conj) and tested on day 21 for specific anti-fimbriae antibodies;
• PBS phosphate-buffered saline
• Fim fimbriae
• Fim Conj fimbriae- polysaccharide conjugate
• Fig. 3 shows the percent protection of mice, immunised with phosphate- buffered saline (Naive), fimbriae (Fim) or fimbria-meningococcal C polysaccharide conjugate (Fim Conj) and subsequently challenged with 10 6 cfu dose of B. pertussis;
• Fig. 4 shows the number of survivors per group of five mice following challenge with Neisseria meningitidis on day 35 following immunisation by phosphate-buffered saline ( 1 ), fimbriae (2), fimbriae-meningococcal C conjugate (3) or AC vaccine (4), Fig. 4a showing the results following challenge by 10 6 cfu of bacteria and Fig. 4b showing the results following challenge by 10 8 cfu of bacteria;
• Fig. 5 shows the numbers of mice surviving following challenge by 10 6 cfu meningitidis in control groups (1 ) and groups immunised with fimbriae (2), fimbriae- polysaccharide conjugate (3) and commercial ACVax (trade mark) vaccine (4);
• Fig . 6 shows in vitro bactericidal titres following immunisation, legend as for Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 shows graphs of anti-fimbrial responses in external secretions elicited by oral alum-adjuvanted fimbriae: 7a-stools, 7b-vaginal washes, 7c-saliva;
• Fig. 8 shows graphs of average protection elicited by orally administered alum-adjuvanted fimbriae
• Fig. 9 shows graphs of anti-fimbrial responses in serum elicited by intraperitoneal or oral alum-adjuvanted fimbriae.
• the method is essentially as described by Gotschlich, E. (1 975) . Purification of the group-specific polysaccharide. Monogr. Allergy 9, 245-258. Polysaccharide is purified from strain L91 543 (C2a P1 .2R, obtained from Manchester Public Health Laboratory) .
• Bacteria are grown overnight on blood agar plates and inoculated into 100ml Frantz medium in 250ml conical flasks and incubated with shaking for 7h. Conical flasks containing 750ml Frantz medium are then inoculated with 10ml of the seed culture and incubated overnight with shaking at 37°C.
• Centrifuge pots are filled to 1 L with culture and allowed to stand for 1 h at room temperature.
• the bacteria and precipitated polysaccharide are then harvested by centrifugation (RC3B centrifuge, 5000rpm, 30min) and the supernatant is discarded.
• pellets are resuspended in approx. 200ml H 2 O, homogenised to prepare a smooth suspension and an equal volume of 2M CaCI 2 added. This is stirred for 1 h to release the polysaccharide from the CTB complex.
• the ethanol concentration is raised to 80% (v/v) to precipitate the polysaccharide.
• the precipitate is then recovered by centrifugation (25,000g, 10min).
• the precipitate is washed x4 with absolute ethanol to remove the CTB and the pellet resuspended in PBS ready for phenol extraction to remove contaminating protein.
• a 90%(w/v) phenol solution is prepared by dissolving 90g phenol by adding 10ml boiling H 2 O and melting in a water bath at 56°.
• the mixture is centrifuged in a bench centrifuge at 4100rpm for about 15min.
• the phenol layer is re-extracted with PBS and incubated for 15min at room temperature. Centrifuge as above, remove the top aqueous layer and pool with the previous extract.
• the aqueous extract is dialysed against 0.1M CaCI 2 , overnight to remove any remaining phenol.
• the dialysed polysaccharide is centrifuged at 100,000g for 5h to pellet the lipooligosaccharide.
• the precipitate is recovered by centrifugation and washed with absolute ethanol.
• Stage 1 derivatisation of protein with adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH)
• Stage 2 activation of polysaccharide and conjugation to derivatised protein.
• the fimbriae it is not essential for the fimbriae to be derivatised, and instead the polysaccharide can be derivatised and this can sometimes minimise the exposure of more labile proteins to inclement conditions, such as low pH followed by high pH.
• mice (6-8 weeks old) are immunised with polysaccharide conjugate vaccine on days 0, 1 4, 28 and then challenged with serogroup C N. meningitidis on day 35.
• the challenge dose (0.5ml) is given by intra-peritoneal injection and contains 10 6 - 10 8 bacteria and iron dextran (2mg).
• a further intra-peritoneal injection of 2mg iron dextran is also given at 24h following challenge.
• the number of surviving mice in each group is recorded for 72h post infection.
• Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C bactericidal assay The method used for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C bactericidal assay is essentially the same as detailed in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol (Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A/C serum bactericidal assay, Maslanka et al., 1 995 CDC Atlanta, USA) with the following exceptions:
• meningitidis strain G ⁇ is used for measurement of serogroup C bactericidal antibody.
• agar "tilt" method only is used for enumeration of bacteria, 10 /I from each well of a 96 well assay plate is applied to BHI + 1 % horse serum plates.
• Figs 1 and 2 show no specific anti-polysaccharide responses in mice immunised with phosphate-buffered saline or with fimbriae alone, and significant anti-polysaccharide responses in mice immunised with a conjugate with fimbriae and polysaccharide, though no IgA antibodies were observed.
• Fig 2 shows the presence of specific anti-fimbriae antibodies in mice immunised both with fimbriae alone and also in mice immunised with the conjugate of fimbriae and polysaccharide.
• Fig. 1 shows no specific anti-polysaccharide responses in mice immunised with phosphate-buffered saline or with fimbriae alone, and significant anti-polysaccharide responses in mice immunised with a conjugate with fimbriae and polysaccharide, though no IgA antibodies were observed.
• Fig 2 shows the presence of specific anti-fimbriae antibodies in mice immunised both with
• FIG. 3 shows there was effective protection against challenge by Bordetella pertussis following immunisation with pertussis fimbriae alone or fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate.
• Fig. 4 shows the number of survivors in a group of five mice immunised with phosphate-buffered saline, fimbriae, fimbriae-meningococcal C polysaccharide or a known vaccine.
• Fig. 4a shows that 24 hours post-challenge the group immunised with the fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate all survived, whereas only two survived from the groups immunised with phosphate-buffered saline or with fimbriae alone.
• Fig. 4 shows that 24 hours post-challenge the group immunised with the fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate all survived, whereas only two survived from the groups immunised with phosphate-buffered saline or with fi
• mice were immunised with PBS (injected i/p), Fimbriae ( 10 ⁇ g injected i/p). Fimbriae-polysaccharide conjugate (10 ⁇ g protein + 10 ⁇ g polysaccharide injected i/p) or with a commercial meningococcal vaccine (ACVax, 1 0 ⁇ g polysaccharide injected i/m) . Animals were immunised on days 0, 14 & 28. Animals were challenged with a lethal dose of 1 0 6 cfu's of N. meningitidis on day 35. Bactericidal assays were performed as below on pre-challenge sera.
• mice immunised with PBS or fimbriae were dead. 1 /5 mice given the commercial meningococcal vaccine survived at 48h while 3/5 mice immunised with the fimbriae-polysaccharide experimental conjugate vaccine survived (figure 5) .
• the results of the bactericidal assay show that immunisation of mice with the experimental conjugate vaccine elicited in vitro bactericidal titres of 51 2 compared with 1 28 elicited by the commercial vaccine (figure 6) .
• Formulations of fimbriae were prepared as follows. For oral administration, three volumes of fimbriae is diluted with one volume of commercially available alum adjuvant. A volume equivalent to 1 0 ⁇ g of fimbriae (20-100 ⁇ l) is diluted with four volumes of 0.1 M bicarbonate buffer (to a maximum volume of 500 ⁇ l), which has a pH of 8.2-8.5 and is designed to be acid-neutralising for oral administration, and suitable for administration by oral gavage. For I. P. administration, three volumes of antigen is diluted with one volume of commercially available adjuvant and a volume equivalent to 10 ⁇ g of fimbriae is injected. Formulations containing fimbriae - polysaccharide conjugate were similarly prepared.
• Alum formulations as described in Example 3 were used in combination with pertussis fimbriae and administered to mice via i/p or oral routes, and when orally there was prior neutralising of gut acid. The results are illustrated in Fig.s 7, 8 and 9.
• Fig. 7 shows that antibodies against fimbriae were found to include antibodies of IgG, IgM and IgA classes in stools (Fig. 7a), vaginal washes (Fig. 7b) and saliva (fig. 7c) .
• Fig. 8 shows that immunisation (using 10 ⁇ g of fimbriae) via oral administration of fimbriae resulted in protection from challenge by B. pertussis, and comparable protection to that provided by i/p administration of fimbriae.
• Anti- fimbrial responses in serum are shown in Fig. 9; though reduced in amount, serum response following oral administration was nevertheless significant.
• microparticle pellet Resuspend in 25 ml of water as above, transfer to a vessel suitable for freeze drying, shell freeze and lyophilise for 48 h.
• a vessel suitable for freeze drying, shell freeze and lyophilise for 48 h.
• microparticles of about 2-5 ⁇ m diameter, for oral administration or incorporation into other vaccinating compositions.
• the method is also suitable for encapsulation of fimbriae-antigen conjugate.
• the invention provides an additional and alternative carrier to known toxoid antigen carriers and is of use in preparing novel conjugate vaccines for a wide range of immunisation applications.
• Oral administration of fimbriae provides protective immunity against pertussis, and is of application to production of oral vaccines.

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