Abated immune responses against recombinant hepatitis-b vaccine by chitin in mice

Abated immune responses against recombinant hepatitis-b protein vaccine by chitin in miceMajority of recombinant protein vaccines employ alum-based adjuvants to boost their immunogenicity in subjects. However, the safe-profiled alum-based adjuvants demonstrate relative ineffectiveness with these recombinant vaccines. This work investigated the adjuvant potential of chitin with recombinant Hepatitis-B protein vaccine (HBsAg) and its possible toxicological effects. Six to eight weeks old female albino mice, which were randomly and equally distributed into five groups were used for this study. Blood collection was done before each vaccination schedule and the samples were used for analysis. Results revealed that IgG and IgG1 titres of mice administered 2 doses of HBsAg-Chitin formulation was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those administered 3 doses of HBsAg and was not significantly (p > 0.05) higher than those administered 2 doses of HBsAg. However, a progressive increase in the anti-HBsAg titres in mice that received the HBsAg-Chitin formulation was observed as days came by. Activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases of all experimental groups, including their liver weights, inferred that the HBsAg-Chitin formulation exert no toxic effect on the liver. The findings of this research revealed that chitin demonstrated a relatively unimpressive adjuvant activity with the recombinant hepatitis-B protein vaccine.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT