Antigen-antibody immunogenic complex: promising novel vaccines for microbial persistent infections.

BACKGROUND

Persistent microbial infections are major public health problems worldwide. Immunotherapies have become an important treatment for persistent infections. With the increasing senescent population, low responsiveness to the current preventive vaccines is another challenge for control of infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS: Active immunotherapy by antigen-antibody complexes (IC) is reviewed.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: IC have shown effects in an hepatitis B surface antigen positive transgenic mouse model by reducing HBsAg, inducing anti-HBs and initiating cytolytic responses. Phase I, IIA and IIB clinical trials in around 300 viral hepatitis B patients have shown promising results. The mechanisms of IC are mainly modulation of antigen uptake and antigen processing and antigen presentation by IC. The prospects for employing IC in treatment of other microbial persistent infections and for prevention in immunocompromized individuals are discussed.