Novel Immunologic Adjuvants

The study of adjuvants - substances added to vaccine formulations to increase efficacy - is one of the fastest growing disciplines in immunology and vaccine development. This book reviews the state-of-the-art of development of novel adjuvants and the science that supports them. There is an increasing need of novel adjuvants for preventive vaccines targeting infectious diseases for which conventional formulations have failed. New adjuvants are also needed to improve existing vaccines in the elderly, infants and chronically infected individuals that mount a suboptimal immune response. In addition, adjuvants could be very useful for the development of effective therapeutic vaccines against chronic infections and cancer. In this context, the book provides an overview of vaccine adjuvants with a special focus on their composition and mechanism of action.