Development of T-cell-based subunit protein vaccines against diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria, remains a challenge for immunologists. Here, we have identified a nano-emulsion adjuvant Adjuplex (ADJ), which enhanced dendritic cell (DC) cross-presentation and elicited effective memory T cell-based immunity to Listeria monocytogenes (LM). We further evaluated whether cross-presentation induced by ADJ, can be combined with the immunomodulatory effects of TLR agonists (CpG or glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant [GLA]) to evoke systemic CD8 T cell-based immunity to LM. Mechanistically, vaccination with ADJ, alone or in combination with CpG or GLA augmented activation and antigen uptake by CD103+ migratory and CD8α+ resident DCs and up-regulated CD69 expression on B and T lymphocytes in vaccine-draining lymph nodes. By engaging basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor 3-dependent cross-presenting DCs, ADJ potently elicited effector CD8 T cells that differentiated into granzyme B-expressing CD27LO effector-like memory CD8 T cells, which provided effective immunity to LM in spleen and liver. CpG or GLA alone did not elicit effector-like memory CD8 T cells and induced moderate protection in spleen, but not in the liver. Surprisingly, combining CpG or GLA with ADJ reduced the number of ADJ-induced memory CD8 T cells and compromised protective immunity to LM, especially in the liver. Taken together, data presented in this manuscript provides a glimpse of protective CD8 T cell memory differentiation induced by a nano-emulsion adjuvant and demonstrates the unexpected negative effects of TLR signaling on the magnitude of CD8 T cell memory and protective immunity to LM, a model intracellular pathogen.
Combination Adjuvants Affect the Magnitude of Effector-Like Memory CD8 T Cells and Protection against Listeriosis