Peptides bound to proteosomes via hydrophobic feet become highly immunogenic without adjuvants.

Addition of either a lauroyl or a pentapeptide (FLLAV) hydrophobic foot to the NH2 terminus of a small, synthetic peptide allowed the peptide to hydrophobically complex to meningococcal outer membrane protein proteosomes by simple dialysis. Both conventional and LPS-hyporesponsive mice immunized with these complexes without any adjuvants developed high-titered and persistent anti-peptide IgG. Since proteosomes have been safely given to many people and since important antigenic determinants are generally hydrophilic, this system should be widely applicable to the development of peptide vaccines for human use.