Insights from diversified anti-angiogenic models: Role of ß-interferon inducer DEAE-Dextran.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis, the physiological process involving growth of new blood vessels from preexisting vessels, is essential for organ growth and repair. However, the imbalance in angiogenesis contributes to copious pathologies including cancer. Preceding the development of anti-angiogenic or proangiogenic agents, its evaluation is equally imperative; hence, precise and adequate models required. Valid mammalian models are expensive, time-consuming and not easy to set up, instigating legal and ethical aspects making it necessary to establish models with satisfactory activity and limited drawbacks. METHODS: We investigated the activity of DEAE-Dextran on diversified models viz. in vitro cell migration assay, ex vivo aortic ring assay, in vitro chick yolk sac membrane assay and in vivo matrigel plug xenograft model corroborating its anti-angiogenic potential and establishing the best means of evaluation. RESULTS: Assorted models were reproducible and correlative to one another. DEAE-Dextran exhibited excellent anti-angiogenic effect in cell migration assay over a duration of 24h compared to the vehicle control fibroblast cell line and aortic ring possessed an alleviated rate of sprouting when treated with DEAE-Dextran with contrast to vehicle control aorta. Similarly, decreased vascular density was observed in DEAE-Dextran treated chick embryos implicating potency of the ß-interferon inducer. Augmenting to these results, the matrigel plugs also mitigated vascular net as well as reduced levels of angiogenic marker CD31. CONCLUSION: Substantially, DEAE-Dextran leads to anti-tumor activity through anti-angiogenic action and a combination of in vitro and in vivo model is vital for the judgement of anti-angiogenic potential since an in vitro model exempts mammalian-culture considerations.

The effect of different adjuvants on immune parameters and protection following vaccination of sheep with a larval-specific antigen of the gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus.

It has recently been recognised that vaccine adjuvants play a critical role in directing the nature of a vaccine induced effector response. In the present study, several adjuvants were evaluated for their ability to protect sheep after field vaccination with the larval-specific Haemonchus contortus antigen, HcsL3. Using a suboptimal antigen dose, aluminium adjuvant was shown to reduce the cumulative faecal egg counts (cFEC) and worm burden by 23% and 25% respectively, in agreement with a previous study. The addition of Quil A to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine brought cFEC back to control levels. Vaccination with the adjuvant DEAE-dextran almost doubled the protection compared to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine resulting in 40% and 41% reduction in cFEC and worm counts compared to controls. Examination of skin responses following i.d. injection of exsheathed L3, revealed that cFEC was negatively correlated with wheal size and tissue eosinophils for the DEAE-dextran and aluminium-adjuvanted groups respectively. These studies have for the first time shown the potential of DEAE-dextran adjuvant for helminth vaccines, and discovered significant cellular correlates of vaccine-induced protection.

Influenza virus neuraminidase contributes to the dextran sulfate-dependent suppressive replication of some influenza A virus strains.

Dextran sulfate (DS), a negatively charged, sulfated polysaccharide, suppresses the replication of an influenza A virus strain, and this suppression is associated with inhibition of the hemagglutinin (HA)-dependent fusion activity. However, it remains unknown whether the replication of all or just some influenza A virus strains is suppressed by DS, or whether HA is the only target for the replication suppression. In the present study, we found that DS inhibited the replication of some, but not all influenza A virus strains. The suppression in the DS-sensitive strains was dose-dependent and neutralized by diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DD), which has a positive charge. The suppression by DS was observed not only at the initial stage of viral infection, which includes viral attachment and entry, but also at the late stage, which includes virus assembly and release from infected cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the DS induced viral aggregation at the cell surface. The neuraminidase (NA) activity of the strains whose viral replication was inhibited at the late stage was also more suppressed by DS than that of the strains whose replication was not inhibited, and this inhibition of NA activity was also neutralized by adding positively charged DD. Furthermore, we found that replacing the NA gene of a strain in which viral replication was inhibited by DS at the late stage with the NA gene from a strain in which viral replication was not inhibited, eliminated the DS-dependent suppression. These results suggest that the influenza virus NA contributes to the DS-suppressible virus release from infected cells at the late stage, and the suppression may involve the inhibition of NA activity by DS's negative charge.

Design and characterization of calcium alginate microparticles coated with polycations as protein delivery system.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded calcium alginate microparticles (MPs) produced in this study by a w/o emulsification and external gelation method exhibited spherical and fairly smooth and porous morphology with 1.052 ± 0.057 µm modal particle size. The high permeability of the calcium alginate hydrogel lead to a potent burst effect and too fast protein release. To overcome these problems, MPs were coated with polycations, such as chitosan, poly-L-lysine and DEAE-dextran. Our results demonstrated that coated MPs showed slower release and were able to significantly reduce the release of BSA in the first hour. Therefore, this method can be applied to prepare coated alginate MPs which could be an optimal system for the controlled release of biotherapeutic molecules. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to optimize delivery properties which could provide a sustained release of proteins.

Roles of dextrans on improving lymphatic drainage for liposomal drug delivery system.

Our aim was to develop a novel liposomal drug delivery system containing dextrans to reduce undesirable retention of antineoplastic agents and thus alleviate local tissue damage. At the cell level, diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-Dx) showed the strongest inhibiting effect on liposome uptake by macrophages among tested dextrans. The distribution of radiolabeled liposomes mixed with dextrans in injection site and draining lymph node was investigated in rats after subcutaneous injection. DEAE-Dx substantially reduced the undesired local retention and promoted the draining of liposome into lymphatics, which was further confirmed by confocal microscopy images revealing the substantial prevention of rhodamine B-labelled liposome sequestration by macrophages in normal lymph node in rats. Pharmacokinetic data indicated the accelerated drainage of liposome through lymphatics back to systemic circulation by mixing with DEAE-Dx. In the toxicological study in rabbits, DEAE-Dx alleviated the local tissue damage caused by liposomal doxorubicin. In conclusion, dextrans, particularly DEAE-Dx, could efficiently enhanced liposomes drainage into lymphatics, which proves themselves as promising adjuvants for lymphatic-targeted liposomal drug delivery system.

Use of proteomics for validation of the isolation process of clotting factor IX from human plasma.

The use of proteomic techniques in the monitoring of different production steps of plasma-derived clotting factor IX (pd F IX) was demonstrated. The first step, solid-phase extraction with a weak anion-exchange resin, fractionates the bulk of human serum albumin (HSA), immunoglobulin G, and other non-binding proteins from F IX. The proteins that strongly bind to the anion-exchange resin are eluted by higher salt concentrations. In the second step, anion-exchange chromatography, residual HSA, some proteases and other contaminating proteins are separated. In the last chromatographic step, affinity chromatography with immobilized heparin, the majority of the residual impurities are removed. However, some contaminating proteins still remain in the eluate from the affinity column. The next step in the production process, virus filtration, is also an efficient step for the removal of residual impurities, mainly high molecular weight proteins, such as vitronectin and inter-alpha inhibitor proteins. In each production step, the active component, pd F IX and contaminating proteins are monitored by biochemical and immunochemical methods and by LC-MS/MS and their removal documented. Our methodology is very helpful for further process optimization, rapid identification of target proteins with relatively low abundance, and for the design of subsequent steps for their removal or purification.

Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus by amplification on polycation-treated cells followed by enzyme immunoassay / Detección del virus de la diarrea viral bovina por amplificación sobre células tratadas con policationes seguida de enzimoinmunoensayo

A bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) amplification method combined with an enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect BVDV antigens in seropositive cattle. Reconstitution assays conducted by adding decreasing amounts of BVDV (Singer strain) to Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells showed that the sensitivity threshold of the combined assay was 10-7 TCID50. BVDV amplification was carried out in polycation (DEAE-Dextran and polybrene)- treated MDBK cells. Treated cells were able to replicate both ether-treated virus and neutralizing antibody-coated virus. Ammonium chloride decreased virus replication in polycation-treated cells, suggesting viral penetration by endocytosis. BVDV detection was tested in leukocytes from 104 seropositive cattle from 2 unvaccinated commercial closed dairy herds with high seroprevalence. Lysates and co-cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were tested, directly or after up to 6 blind passages in normal or polycation-treated cells. BVDV was detected in 10/104 cattle after only one co-culture of PBL in treated cells. No virus was detected in whole blood or plasma samples. BVDV positive and negative cattle were retested three times, achieving consistent results. The finding of immune carriers supports the possibility that these animals may constitute an epidemiological risk.

Se desarrolló un método de detección de antígenos del virus de la diarrea viral bovina (BVDV) combinando amplificación viral con enzimoinmunoensayo. El método combinado presentó una sensibilidad de 10-7 TCID50 en ensayos con diluciones decrecientes de BVDV cepa Singer sobre la línea celular MDBK. La amplificación del título viral se efectuó sobre células MDBK tratadas con policationes Estas células replicaron tanto el BVDV tratado con éter como el unido a anticuerpos. La replicación viral en las células tratadas disminuyó ante la presencia de cloruro de amonio, lo que sugiere la penetración viral por endocitosis. El BVDV se determinó en leucocitos de 104 bovinos seropositivos de dos rodeos en producción, cerrados y con alta seroprevalencia. Los leucocitos de sangre periférica (LSP) fueron lisados y analizados directamente o luego de hasta 6 pasajes ciegos sobre células normales o tratadas con policationes. El BVDV se detectó en 10 de los 104 animales después de solamente un cultivo de LSP en células tratadas. No se pudo detectar presencia viral en las muestras de sangre o plasma. Los estudios se repitieron tres veces en animales BVDV positivos y negativos, con resultados consistentes. El hallazgo de bovinos seropositivos portadores del virus indica la posibilidad de que estos animales puedan significar un riesgo epidemiológico.

Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus by amplification on polycation-treated cells followed by enzyme immunoassay.

A bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) amplification method combined with an enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect BVDV antigens in seropositive cattle. Reconstitution assays conducted by adding decreasing amounts of BVDV (Singer strain) to Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells showed that the sensitivity threshold of the combined assay was 10(-7) TCID50. BVDV amplification was carried out in polycation (DEAE-Dextran and polybrene)-treated MDBK cells. Treated cells were able to replicate both ether-treated virus and neutralizing antibody-coated virus. Ammonium chloride decreased virus replication in polycation-treated cells, suggesting viral penetration by endocytosis. BVDV detection was tested in leukocytes from 104 seropositive cattle from 2 unvaccinated commercial closed dairy herds with high seroprevalence. Lysates and co-cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were tested, directly or after up to 6 blind passages in normal or polycation-treated cells. BVDV was detected in 10/104 cattle after only one co-culture of PBL in treated cells. No virus was detected in whole blood or plasma samples. BVDV positive and negative cattle were retested three times, achieving consistent results. The finding of immune carriers supports the possibility that these animals may constitute an epidemiological risk.

Gene therapy for barrett's esophagus: adenoviral gene transfer in different intestinal models.

Adenoviral gene therapy could potentially be used for treatment of patients with a Barrett's esophagus. In order to study the feasibility of this approach it is important to study adenoviral intestinal transduction both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we used differentiating Caco-2 cells, closed intestinal loops and a Barrett's esophagus rat model to test transduction of adenoviruses expressing green fluorescent protein. We observed a decreased adenoviral transduction from 18.6 to 2.3% in undifferentiated and differentiated Caco-2 cells, respectively. This could be improved by the use of the mucolytic agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and the polycation diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-dextran), which improved transduction in differentiated cells five- and ten-fold, respectively. Also an RGD-retargeted adenovirus showed an improved transduction in differentiated cells. In closed intestinal loops adenoviral transduction was limited and the use of NAC and DEAE-dextran or RGD targeting had little effect. The Barrett's esophagus rat model consisted of an esophagojejunostomy, which results in a Barrett's esophagus and esophageal tumors within 6 months. Adenoviral transduction in this model was limited and mainly localized in the basal layer of normal esophagus and stromal tissue of a Barrett's segment. We conclude that although the adenovirus shows promising results in vitro, the current adenoviral vectors are probably not suitable for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Demethylation using the epigenetic modifier, 5-azacytidine, increases the efficiency of transient transfection of macrophages.

This study was aimed at developing a method for high-efficiency transient transfection of macrophages. Seven methods were evaluated for transient transfection of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The highest transfection efficiency was achieved with DEAE-dextran, although the proportion of cells expressing the reporter gene did not exceed 20%. It was subsequently found that the cytomegalovirus plasmid promoter in these cells becomes methylated. When cells were treated with the methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine, methylation of the plasmid promoter was abolished and a dose-dependent stimulation of reporter gene expression was observed with expression achieved in more than 80% of cells. Treatment of cells with 5-azacytidine also caused increased efficiency of transfection of macrophages with plasmids driven by RSV, SV40, and EF-1alpha promoters and transient transfection of human HepG2 cells. Inhibition of methylation also increased the amount and activity of sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) detected in RAW 264.7 cells transfected with a CYP27A1 expression plasmid. Treatment of cells with 5-azacytidine alone did not affect either cholesterol efflux from nontransfected cells or expression of ABCA1 and CYP27A1. However, transfection with CYP27A1 led to a 2- to 4-fold increase of cholesterol efflux. We conclude that treatment with 5-azacytidine can be used for high-efficiency transient transfection of macrophages.

Characterization and selection of vaginal Lactobacillus strains for the preparation of vaginal tablets.

AIMS: To characterize and select Lactobacillus strains for properties that would make them a good alternative to the use of antibiotics to treat human vaginal infections. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten Lactobacillus strains belonging to four different Lactobacillus species were analysed for properties relating to mucosal colonization or microbial antagonism (adhesion to human epithelial cells, hydrogen peroxide production, antimicrobial activity towards Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans and coaggregation with pathogens). The involvement of electrostatic interactions and the influence of bacterial metabolic state in the binding of lactobacilli to the cell surface were also studied. Adherence to epithelial cells varied greatly among the Lactobacillus species and among different strains belonging to the same Lactobacillus species. The reduction in surface negative electric charge promoted the binding of several Lactobacillus strains to the cell membrane whereas lyophilization reduced the adhesion capacity of many isolates. The antimicrobial activity of lactobacilli culture supernatant fluids was not directly related to the production of H2O2. CONCLUSIONS: Three strains (Lactobacillus brevis CD2, Lact. salivarius FV2 and Lact. gasseri MB335) showed optimal properties and were, therefore, selected for the preparation of vaginal tablets. The selected strains adhered to epithelial cells displacing vaginal pathogens; they produced high levels of H2O2, coaggregated with pathogens and inhibited the growth of G. vaginalis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The dosage formulation developed in this study appears to be a good candidate for the probiotic prophylaxis and treatment of human vaginal infections.

Improving permissive infection of human cytomegalovirus in cell culture.

Changes in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) titre occurring under different conditions were studied using plaque assay. No significant change in titre was found using primary embryonic fibroblasts or primary foreskin fibroblasts, or with the addition of dexamethasone to the medium. Significant increases in titre were found when standard cultures were pre-incubated in medium containing DEAE-dextran and/or calcium chloride. However, DEAE-dextran and/or calcium chloride had no significant effect on HCMV detection using the shell vial assay, possibly because enhancement affects permissive infection, but not surface expression of viral antigens. DEAE-dextran and calcium chloride can be included in the medium of standard cultures as a means of obtaining higher titres of HCMV, and are particularly useful for isolates that are difficult to culture.

Polycations induce calcium signaling in glomerular podocytes.

BACKGROUND: The neutralization of the polyanionic surface of the podocyte by perfusion of kidneys with polycations, such as protamine sulfate, leads to a retraction of podocyte foot processes and proteinuria. This study investigates the effects of protamine sulfate or anionic, neutral, or cationic dextrans on the cytosolic calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) in podocytes. METHODS: [Ca2+]i was measured in single cultured differentiated mouse podocytes with the fluorescence dye fura-2/AM. RESULTS: Protamine sulfate caused a concentration-dependent and partially reversible increase of [Ca2+]i (EC50 approximately 1.5 micromol/liter). Pretreatment of the cells with heparin (100 U/liter) inhibited the protamine sulfate-mediated increase of [Ca2+]i. Like protamine sulfate, diethylaminoethyl dextran (DEAE-dextran) concentration dependently increased [Ca2+]i in podocytes (EC50 approximately 20 nmol/liter), whereas dextran sulfate or uncharged dextran (both 10 micromol/liter) did not influence [Ca2+]i. A reduction of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration (from 1 mmol/liter to 1 micomol/liter) partially inhibited the protamine sulfate and the DEAE-dextran-induced [Ca2+]i response. Flufenamate (100 micromol/liter) or Gd3+ (10 micromol/liter), which are known to inhibit nonselective ion channels, did not influence the [Ca2+]i increase induced by protamine sulfate. In the presence of thapsigargin (50 nmol/liter), an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, both protamine sulfate and DEAE-dextran increased [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that polycations increase podocyte [Ca2+]i. The increase of [Ca2+]i may be an early event in the pathogenesis of protamine sulfate-mediated retraction of podocyte foot processes.

Potassium ion efflux induced by cationic compounds in yeast.

Potassium efflux in yeast induced by several cationic compounds showed different characteristics. All of the observed efflux required glucose as substrate at the concentrations used. For most of them, the phenomenon required binding of the cationic compound to the cell surface and increased with the negative cell surface charge, and for all the compounds tested, it depended on a metabolizable substrate. Efflux induced with terbium chloride appeared more likely due to the function of a K+/H+ antiporter. With DEAE-dextran and dihydrostreptomycin, potassium efflux was dependent on the cell potassium content and was also sensitive to osmotic changes of the medium. DEAE-dextran-provoked efflux was not due to cell disruption. Dihydrostreptomycin seemed to activate a potassium efflux system which could not be studied in isolation, but its inhibition of potassium uptake may also be involved. Except for cells treated with ethidium bromide, no appreciable cell disruption was observed. The potassium efflux observed appears to be a membrane phenomenon reversible after washing with magnesium chloride.

Potentiation of gene transfer to the mouse lung by complexes of adenovirus vector and polycations improves therapeutic potential.

Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors are being considered for in vivo delivery of various therapeutic genes. One limiting factor in the development of Ad-based gene therapy is the low efficiency of gene transfer to target tissues such as vascular endothelium, smooth muscle, and airway epithelium. Complexing Ad vector with various polycations has been shown to enhance transduction of cell lines otherwise resistant to Ad infection in vitro. On the basis of this observation, the activity of Ad/polycation complexes was tested in vivo in the mouse lung. The results indicated that several polycations were capable of enhancing transduction of mouse respiratory epithelium, leading to a 1-2 log increase in levels of transgene expression. Poly-L-lysine (PLL) and DEAE-dextran were examined further and were found to increase Ad-mediated gene transfer without any additional toxicity as assessed histologically or through the measurement of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavages. The two polycations also failed to affect the humoral response against Ad vector and were themselves nonimmunogenic under conditions leading to enhanced gene transfer. Moreover, the ability to use reduced doses of vector complexed with polycations resulted in lower levels of Ad-specific antibodies and, thereby, improved readministration of vector. These results suggest that complexing Ad vectors with polycations has the potential to improve the therapeutic index by increasing transgene expression while reducing unwanted responses associated with high doses of vector.

Colon epithelium can be transiently transfected with liposomes, calcium phosphate precipitation and DEAE dextran in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of recombinant DNA into cells is the initial step toward the development of gene therapy. It has been shown that cationic liposomes are useful vehicles to introduce DNA into colon epithelial cells in vivo. METHODS: In the present study we compared the efficacy of different nonviral transfection methods into the colon wall. In anesthetized rats, a double balloon catheter was advanced into the colon and a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter plasmid complexed to liposomes, mixed with DEAE dextran, or precipitated with calcium phosphate was instilled. Following 2 days CAT activity was determined in the transfected colon segments. RESULTS: DEAE dextran and liposomes were more effective than calcium phosphate, whereas naked DNA was not taken up by the colon epithelial cells. Reporter gene expression was dose-dependent. Expressing cell types did not differ utilizing the various transfection methods as judged by X-gal staining of colon sections after transfection with a LacZ reporter plasmid. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that in addition to liposomes, plasmid DNA mixed with DEAE dextran can be taken up by colon epithelial cells. This transfection techniques may prove useful in the development of gene therapy approaches for colon disease.

Improved operational stability of biosensors based on enzyme-polyelectrolyte complex adsorbed into a porous carbon electrode.

A novel porous active carbon is utilized in order to adsorb the diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-dextran)-enzyme stabilized complexes, for the construction of highly stable biosensors. The interaction of DEAE-dextran with the examined enzymes increases dramatically the operational stabilization of the sensors, without adverse effects on the enzyme activity. At the same time, the porous active carbon allows for high enzyme loading, good electrical contact and low resistance throughout the sensing element. Glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase are used as model enzymes in this study to construct biosensors, with very good reproducibility (less than 5% RSD). As a result, the glucose sensor exhibits very long operational stability (over a period of 5 months), while the hydrogen peroxide sensor retains its initial activity after several weeks.

Inhibition of plating of human T cell leukemia virus type I and syncytium-inducing types of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by polycations.

We examined the effects of polycations, namely, diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-dextran) and hexadimethrine bromide (Polybrene), on infection with the retroviruses human T cell leukemia virus types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The plating of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotype bearing envelope antigens of HTLV-I [VSV(HTLV-I)] was inhibited about 2- and 10-fold by treatment with DEAE-dextran and Polybrene, respectively. The formation of HTLV-I viral DNA detected 1 day after infection was also inhibited by these polycations. In contrast, polycations enhanced the plating of the VSV (HTLV-II) pseudotype two- to threefold. The polycations did not affect the plating efficiency of HTLV-I or HTLV-II when added after virus adsorption. Infection of human T cell lines, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), or brain-derived cells with syncytium-inducing (SI) types of HIV-1 strains (GUN1 and IIIB) was inhibited 3- to 20-fold by polycations. However, infection of PBLs or monocyte-derived macrophages with the macrophage-tropic Ba-L or SF162 strain was enhanced 1.5- to twofold by polycations. On the other hand, syncytium formation in coculture induced by HTLV-I, HTLV-II, or HIV-1 was enhanced two- to threefold unanimously by DEAE-dextran or Polybrene. Although polycations have been used to potentiate human retrovirus adsorption, they inhibited infection of cell-free HTLV-I or SI-type HIV-1 strains.

Effect of adjuvants on antibody responses of sheep immunised with recombinant pili from Dichelobacter nodosus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of two oil emulsion adjuvants (incomplete Freunds adjuvant and a proprietary oil adjuvant), DEAE-dextran, L-tyrosine particles and Quil A on the humoral immune responses of sheep immunised with recombinant pili of Dichelobacter Nodosus (strain A). PROCEDURE: Antibody titres were studied for up to 32 weeks and were measured by bacterial agglutination and ELISA. The relative avidity of antibodies for pili was determined and the incidence and severity of adverse reactions at the site of injection of vaccines were recorded. RESULTS: The oil emulsion adjuvants and Quil A were more effective than either DEAE-dextran or L-tyrosine at stimulating antibodies in sheep. The incidence and severity of adverse reactions was lower in sheep which received vaccines containing either Quil A or DEAE-dextran than in sheep which received vaccines containing oil emulsion adjuvants. L-tyrosine had no adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Quil A was as effective as oil adjuvants at stimulating high levels of antibodies against recombinant pili in sheep and had the significant advantage of being less irritant after subcutaneous injection.