Antibodies against cell surface antigens as very potent immunological adjuvants

We describe here two very potent adjuvant systems which are thought to work directly on antigen specific lymphocytes, thus by-passing the normal route for adjuvants, which is to activate antigen presenting cells (APCs) inducing release of inflammatory cytokines with resultant side effects of local and systemic reactogenicity. CD40 and CD28 based adjuvants are extremely potent and should avoid the inflammatory side effects induced by most adjuvants. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.