Adel Najafi - Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Fatemieh hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamedan, Iran
Kiarash Ghazvini - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Mojtaba Sankian - Immunology Research Center, Bu Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Leila Gholami - Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sirvan Zare - Immunology Research Center, Bu Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Arshid Youdefi-Avarvand - Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahavz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohsen Tafaghodi - Nanotechnology Research center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s): BCG vaccine has no longer been appreciated to immunize against tuberculosis, worldwide, so novel appropriate adjuvants have been dedicated to improve immune responses. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of ISCOMATRIX as an adjuvant to stimulate potent humoral and cellular immune responses of the PPE۱۷ loaded alginate coated nanoparticles through subcutaneous and intranasal vaccination. Materials and Methods: Size, polydispersity index, and morphology of the resulting colloidal particles were explored by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cellular and/or humoral immune stimulation properties of ISCOMATRIX adjuvant were measured by measuring the level of IFNγ, IL-۴, IL-۱۷, and TGFβ in spleen cell cultures and IgG۱ and IgG۲a in serum and sIgA in nasal lavage of immunized mice, respectively. Results: The spherical cage-like particles of ISCOMATRIX adjuvant have optimal size of ۵۹±۶ nm appropriate for an immune adjuvant vaccine. ISCOMATRIX induced robust Th۱ (IFN-γ) and IL-۱۷ cytokine response also significant IgG۲a and IgG۱antibodies in both subcutaneous and intranasal routes and elicited mucosal sIgA response when administered intranasally. As a booster for BCG, ISCOMATRIX induced immune responses only in subcutaneous route. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ISCOMATRIX is a promising adjuvant with the potential for increasing cellular and humoral immunity both after subcutaneous and intranasal administration.

Adjuvant, Chitosan, Immune response, ISCOMATRIX, Nanoparticle