Natural and synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccine adjuvants and their mechanisms of action

Abstract

Modern subunit vaccines based on homogeneous antigens offer more precise targeting and improved safety compared with traditional whole-pathogen vaccines. However, they are also less immunogenic and require an adjuvant to increase the immunogenicity of the antigen and potentiate the immune response. Unfortunately, few adjuvants have sufficient potency and low enough toxicity for clinical use, highlighting the urgent need for new, potent and safe adjuvants. Notably, a number of natural and synthetic carbohydrate structures have been used as adjuvants in clinical trials, and two have recently been approved in human vaccines. However, naturally derived carbohydrate adjuvants are heterogeneous, difficult to obtain and, in some cases, unstable. In addition, their molecular mechanisms of action are generally not fully understood, partly owing to the lack of tools to elucidate their immune-potentiating effects, thus hampering the rational development of optimized adjuvants. To address these challenges, modification of the natural product structure using synthetic chemistry emerges as an attractive approach to develop well-defined, improved carbohydrate-containing adjuvants and chemical probes for mechanistic investigation. This Review describes selected examples of natural and synthetic carbohydrate-based adjuvants and their application in synthetic self-adjuvanting vaccines, while also discussing current understanding of their molecular mechanisms of action.

Carbohydrate adjuvants potentiate immune responses through diverse mechanisms. This Review highlights carbohydrate-based adjuvants, providing insights into structure–activity relationships and applications in vaccine development, while discussing current knowledge of the mechanisms by which they potentiate and modulate the immune response.

Introduction

Advances in medicine, biotechnology and chemistry and recent insights into immunological mechanisms have enabled current vaccines to be rationally designed and endowed with pure, molecularly defined antigen substructures¹. Compared with traditional whole-pathogen vaccines, these subunit vaccines offer advantages in terms of safety and precision, but they are less immunogenic and require the presence of adjuvants for optimal vaccine efficacy. Adjuvants are substances that enhance antigen-specific immune responses by triggering and modulating both the innate and adaptive (acquired) immunity². They also allow the dose of expensive antigens to be limited, reduce booster immunizations, generate more rapid and durable immune responses, and increase the effectiveness of vaccines in poor responders.

Despite their key role, few sufficiently potent adjuvants with acceptable toxicity for human use are available in licensed vaccines. For more than 70 years, alum (a mixture of diverse aluminium salts) has been the only approved adjuvant in humans and is still one of the most popular in human vaccines. In late 2009, Adjuvant System 04 (AS04), a proprietary combination of alum and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), was approved for the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), Cervarix. However, aluminium adjuvants have relatively low potency and elicit primarily an antibody-mediated T helper 2 (T_H2)-type immune response (Box 1), with weak stimulation of cell-mediated immunity. Alum has been shown to act mainly as a delivery system that traps the antigen at the injection site by forming macromolecular aggregates, facilitating its slow release and uptake by antigen-presenting cells³. Nonetheless, the precise mechanism by which aluminium-containing adjuvants enhance the immune response remains poorly understood⁴. Apart from aluminium salts, the only other licensed adjuvants in human vaccines are oil-in-water emulsions containing squalene (MF59, AS03), in vitro-assembled influenza-virus-like particles (virosomes), and, most recently, the liposome-based Adjuvant System AS01 (ref.⁵). However, emulsion adjuvants have raised significant concerns owing to their adverse side effects^6,7, and their molecular mechanisms of action are not fully defined⁸. AS01, a liposomal formulation containing MPLA and the saponin natural product QS-21, has only been recently approved for GSK’s malaria (Mosquirix) and shingles (Shingrix) vaccines, benefiting from a synergistic effect of both adjuvants in the early interferon-γ (IFNγ) response that enhanced vaccine immunogenicity^9,10.

Therefore, there is still a pressing need for novel, potent and less toxic adjuvants and new formulations for use in subunit vaccines. Classical adjuvant searches focused on improving the strength of the immune response by increasing antibody and/or cytokine production. Current efforts towards enhancing vaccine efficacy centre on the rational development of adjuvants that can elicit optimal, antigen-specific immune responses (responses associated with T helper 1 (T_H1) cells or T helper 2 (T_H2) cells, see Box 1), including tailored antibody isotype profiles and CD8⁺ T cell responses¹¹. To identify such adjuvants and select optimal adjuvant–antigen combinations with defined immunological profiles and low toxicity, elucidating their precise pharmacological pathways and molecular mechanisms of action is essential. This mechanistic understanding will, in turn, enable the rational development of future vaccines against various human diseases.

Carbohydrates represent the most widespread class of biomolecules in nature. They play crucial roles in the immune system function and the stimulation of the immune response¹² that can be exploited by the chemistry community¹³. Carbohydrates possess many beneficial properties that make them promising adjuvant candidates, namely, high biocompatibility and tolerability and a strong safety profile¹⁴. A variety of natural carbohydrate structures, particularly MPLA and QS-21, have been clinically evaluated as adjuvants and are part of licensed Adjuvant Systems (AS) in human vaccines against HPV (AS04), herpes zoster and malaria (AS01). However, carbohydrate-based immunopotentiators obtained from natural sources are usually difficult to obtain in sufficient quantity, purity and homogeneity. Moreover, although the mechanisms of action of carbohydrate-based adjuvants have been extensively investigated, the molecular bases underlying the adjuvant activity of some of these compounds have not yet been fully elucidated. This is partly owing to the lack of tools to better explore its immune-potentiating effects. This, in turn, has hampered the rational design and development of optimized adjuvants and adjuvant combinations. Furthermore, the complexity and sensitivity of the diverse functionalities of the natural product structure limit the chemical derivatization of the parent compound, leaving limited opportunities for generation of synthetic analogues and structure–activity studies. By contrast, synthetic organic chemistry, including total synthesis and semi-synthetic strategies, offers a more attractive approach to molecularly defined, improved versions of carbohydrate-containing immunostimulants and chemical probes for mechanistic investigation, enabling structural modification of the corresponding natural products with a high level of chemical control.

This Review highlights recent advances in the development of carbohydrate-based adjuvants, including both naturally derived as well as rationally designed, chemically synthesized compounds, and discusses current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of action of the most promising natural and synthetic carbohydrate adjuvants. We focus primarily on adjuvants based on saponin, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and zwitterionic polysaccharide. Polynucleotide (DNA/RNA)-based adjuvants are not discussed here because their immunomodulatory properties rely on the unmethylated cytosine–guanine (CpG) dinucleotides, rather than on the carbohydrate moiety.

Box 1 CD4⁺ T helper cell subsets.

Naive CD4⁺ T helper cells interact via their T cell receptors with peptide antigens presented on MHC class II molecules on the antigen-presenting cell surface. Among other factors^282,283, activation and differentiation of effector CD4⁺ T helper cells into distinct subsets depends most predominantly on the nature of the innate immune signals that activated antigen-presenting cells upon antigen encounter, which generates a cytokine milieu that modulates the outcome of the adaptive immune response^11,284.

The first subpopulations of effector CD4⁺ T helper cells discovered were the T helper 1 (T_H1) and T_H2 subsets²⁸⁵. These are responsible for controlling and eliminating intracellular and extracellular pathogens, respectively²⁸⁵. Adjuvants influence humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by inducing T_H1 and T_H2 cells to produce T_H1-associated or T_H2-associated cytokines, thus resulting in T_H1 or T_H2 immunity. T_H1 differentiation is promoted by interferon-γ (IFNγ) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) cytokines, leading to T_H1 effector cells, which are best suited for eliminating intracellular pathogens. T_H1 cells are characterized by producing IFNγ, a cytokine that activates macrophages, enhancing their microbial killing activity²⁸⁶, and that stimulates production of mouse IgG2a/IgG2b and IgG3 antibody subtypes, which are involved in opsonization and phagocytosis events²⁸⁷. Moreover, IFNγ, together with IL-2, promotes differentiation of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes into active cytotoxic T cells.

On the other hand, IL-4 induces the differentiation into T_H2 effector cells, which are characterized by producing IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 cytokines²⁸⁸, and are specialized in controlling infections by extracellular parasites. T_H2 cytokines stimulate the production of high levels of IgM and non-complement fixing IgG isotypes, such as IgG1 in mice²⁸⁷. Additionally, the T_H17 effector cell subset originates from a cytokine milieu containing TGFβ, IL-6 and IL-23 and is characterized by production of IL-17 and IL-22 cytokines. T_H17 cells are typically induced in response to extracellular bacteria and fungi and promote production of high-affinity IgG and IgA antibodies, which cooperate with neutrophils and macrophages at barrier tissue sites. Notably, T follicular helper (T_FH) lymphocytes are currently considered an activation state of a given effector cell subset, rather than a distinct lineage itself. Thus, T_FH cells develop together with T_H1, T_H2 or T_H17 cells to help B cells generate class-switched antibodies²⁸⁹. Finally, regulatory T (T_reg) cells promote tolerance towards the recognized antigen, control the immune response and prevent autoimmunity^290,291.

Saponin-based adjuvants

Saponins are plant-derived natural products with a range of biological activities that consist of a lipophilic triterpenoid core flanked by one or more oligosaccharide chains (Fig. 1a). While the adjuvant activity of saponins has been widely investigated, including the recently identified Quillaja brasiliensis saponins¹⁵, the triterpene glycosides extracted from the bark of the Chilean tree Quillaja saponaria (i.e. QS) have been the primary focus for saponin-based adjuvant research since more than 30 years ago¹⁶. Purification by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of a heterogeneous, adjuvant-active, semi-purified bark extract (i.e. Quil-A) containing more than 20 water-soluble Q. saponaria saponins led to the identification of several QS saponin fractions that elicited humoral and cell-mediated responses, including QS-21, QS-18, QS-17 and QS-7 (ref.¹⁷) (Fig. 1a). The main saponin component, QS-18, was found to be highly toxic in mice but saponins QS-7 and QS-21 showed less toxicity. As QS-7 was less abundant, QS-21 was selected and has become the most widely studied saponin adjuvant for the past 25 years¹⁸.

Fig. 1. Structures of natural and synthetic QS-based saponin adjuvants and proposed mechanism of action for QS-21-related saponin adjuvants.

a | Structures of saponin natural product adjuvants QS-21, QS-18 and QS-17 derived from the Quillaja saponaria tree¹⁷ and summary of structure–adjuvant activity relationships of QS-21 (ref.³⁶). b | Structures of saponin natural product adjuvant QS-7_Xyl (ref.¹⁷) and summary of QS-7 structure–adjuvant activity relationships^29,43. c | Schematic representation of the proposed mechanism of action for QS-21-related saponin adjuvants⁴⁸. Upon endocytosis, exogenous protein antigens and QS-21 are delivered to dendritic cells (DCs). Following QS-21-mediated disruption of the endosomal membrane, cleaved protein antigens can be further processed into smaller peptide fragments in the cytosol by the proteasome machinery. Degraded peptides are translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by transporter molecules, where chaperones facilitate their binding to newly synthesized MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules for vesicular migration through the Golgi to the cell surface. Finally, peptide epitopes exposed on the DC surface in association with MHC-I molecules are presented to naive CD8⁺ T cells (cross-presentation) through the T cell receptor (TCR). T_H, T helper. Part c adapted from ref.⁴⁷, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), and with permission from ref.⁵³, Elsevier.

QS-21 is not a single compound but a mixture of two isomeric saponins, QS-21-apiose (65% abundance) and QS-21-xylose (35% abundance), that share a glycosylated pseudo-dimeric acyl chain and a branched trisaccharide at the C3 position of the quillaic acid triterpene core, and differ in the terminal sugar of the linear tetrasaccharide that is linked to the C28 carboxyl group of the triterpene¹⁹ (Fig. 1a). QS-21 has been the preferred adjuvant in numerous vaccine clinical trials against a variety of cancers¹⁸ and infectious diseases²⁰, and vaccine formulations containing QS-21 as an adjuvant have been recently licensed for human use⁵. QS-21 stimulates both antibody-based and cell-mediated immune responses, eliciting a T_H1-biased immune response²¹ with production of high titres of antibodies (IgG2a and IgG2b, in addition to IgG1), as well as antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. However, except its recent approval as part of the AS01 system in GSK’s malaria (Mosquirix)²² and shingles (Shingrix)²³ vaccines, the inherent liabilities of QS-21, including scarcity, heterogeneity, hydrolytic instability and dose-limiting toxicity, have limited its clinical advancement as a stand-alone adjuvant.

Structure–activity relationships of QS-21 and synthetic QS variants

To address the inherent issues of QS-21 as an adjuvant and to gain insights into the structural features that are important for activity, a variety of semi-synthetic saponin variants have been developed, yielding important structure–activity relationships (SARs) within the QS saponin family.

One example is the chemical derivatization of the natural product to provide the semi-synthetic saponin adjuvant GPI-0100, which was prepared from QS bark extracts by saponification of the acyl chain, followed by amidation of the branched trisaccharide glucuronic acid with dodecylamine²⁴. Whereas hydrolysis of the acyl chain resulted in deacylated saponins that did not stimulate T_H1 immunity or cytotoxic T lymphocyte induction but, rather, T_H2 immunity (significant IgG1 antibody levels but poor IgG2a/IgG2b responses)²⁵, replacing the original acyl chain by the dodecylamide at the branched trisaccharide in GPI-0100 restored T_H1 immunity and the ability to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses²⁶. Chemical synthesis of the presumably main immunoactive constituents of GPI-0100, based on QS-21 and QS-17/18, confirmed the adjuvant activity of the heterogeneous GPI-0100 adjuvant, albeit at doses five times higher than QS-21 itself^27,28. To study further the acylation effect in saponin adjuvant activity, Wang et al. synthesized and immunologically evaluated two C28 pentasaccharide analogues of QS-7 with a single-sugar truncation and showed that acetylation at the 3-O and 4-O positions of the fucosyl unit (Fig. 1b) shifted the immunostimulatory profile from the preferential production of IgG1 antibodies (T_H2-biased) to induction of both IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses (mixed T_H1/T_H2 immunity)²⁹.

Synthetic chemistry represents a powerful strategy to obtain homogeneous, pure samples of saponin molecules and to develop new saponin analogues with improved properties and therapeutic profiles. Pioneering work by Gin and colleagues led to the first total syntheses of QS-21_Api (refs^30,31), QS-21_Xyl (ref.³²) and QS-7_Api (ref.³³), and to the development of a semi-synthetic sequence³⁴ to a range of chemically stable, amide-containing acyl chain variants of QS-21 (ref.³⁵). These enabled detailed SAR studies of this complex molecule, defining minimal structural requirements for adjuvant activity³⁶ (Fig. 1a).

Strikingly, the terminal sugar within the linear tetrasaccharide³⁷ and the entire branched trisaccharide turned out to be dispensable for adjuvant activity³⁸. Simplification of the acyl chain backbone and modification at the acyl chain terminus did not impair activity³⁵, with the exception of a terminal amino group that abolished adjuvant activity³⁷. Conjugation of the aldehyde-containing immunopotentiator tucaresol at this terminal amine restored activity, although a synergistic enhancement was not observed³⁹. The central glycosidic linkage was quite sensitive to chemical modification, and subtle central linker variations led to QS analogues with drastically different activities that correlated with specific conformational preferences⁴⁰.

The triterpene C4-aldehyde substituent, hypothesized to play a role in the ability of QS-21 to induce T_H1 immunity, was not required for adjuvant activity in truncated synthetic saponins as assessed in terms of antibody response in mice, while the C16-alcohol enhanced activity with higher IgG production³⁸. Subsequently, our multidisciplinary studies involving immunological evaluation and conformational analysis of branched trisaccharide truncated synthetic saponins with targeted modifications at the triterpene have underlined the dispensability of the C4-aldehyde and identified a key role for the C16-hydroxyl group in saponin conformation that correlated with adjuvant activity⁴¹, highlighting echinocystic acid as a valuable triterpene source for potent saponin adjuvants further emphasized by its greater affordability and sustainability. Overall, these SAR studies have provided improved, synthetically accessible QS saponins with potent adjuvant activity and non-toxicity in mice, and have enabled the development of saponin probes to gain early insights into their mechanisms of action (see below)⁴². Most recently, Wang and colleagues have shown that stepwise truncation of the C28 hexasaccharide of QS-7 to a tetrasaccharide retained its ability to induce IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies (T_H1 response), albeit at levels lower than the pentasaccharide analogue and QS-21, whereas further sugar truncation led to progressively decreased adjuvant activity, with only the C28 trisaccharide variant inducing significant IgG1 (T_H2) antibody response⁴³ (Fig. 1b).

Mechanisms of action

The mechanisms of action of QS-21 are poorly understood, hindering rational development of improved analogues and selection of optimal adjuvant–antigen combinations in future vaccines. A depot effect by which the adjuvant increases the lifetime of the antigen and its presentation to the immune system may not be operative, as prolonged persistence and sustained released of the antigen at the injection site could not be correlated with saponin adjuvant activity²¹. Binding to TLR2 and TLR4 has also been excluded⁴⁴. QS-21 has been hypothesized to interact with cell surface lectins through its carbohydrate residues, facilitating antigen uptake into antigen-presenting cells, and to bind amino groups on T cell receptors via imine formation through its triterpene aldehyde, delivering a co-stimulatory signal required for T cell activation and T_H1 cellular immunity⁴⁵.

A number of studies have investigated the mechanisms of action of QS-21 formulated in liposomes and/or in combination with MPLA. In a liposomal formulation injected intramuscularly, QS-21 targeted subcapsular macrophages in the draining lymph nodes, leading to multiple effects: activation of a caspase (i.e. caspase 1), subsequent recruitment and activation of neutrophils and dendritic cells, and, ultimately, induction of antibody and cellular responses, all dependent on myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), a key signal transduction adapter for interleukin-1 (IL-1)/IL-18 receptors⁴⁶. A proposed model based on recent data with QS-21 formulated in liposomes involves cholesterol-dependent endocytosis of QS-21 by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs), followed by accumulation in and destabilization of the lysosomes. This lysosomal disruption can induce cathepsin B and SYK kinase-mediated activation of moDCs and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and could also influence antigen processing and translocation to the cytosol for subsequent cross-presentation^47,48 (Fig. 1c). Specifically, saponin-based adjuvants, alone in purified form or formulated with cholesterol and phospholipids in 40-nm cage-like structures (ISCOMATRIX) have been shown to increase antigen cross-presentation in moDCs via endosomal escape and formation of intracellular lipid bodies⁴⁹. Mechanistically, ISCOMATRIX relies mostly on Quillaja saponins’ adjuvant abilities to (1) induce pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines that recruit and activate antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells), (2) promote antigen trafficking and release into the cytosol and (3) link the innate and adaptive immune responses in vivo in a TLR-independent but MyD88-dependent manner⁵⁰. In addition to MyD88, NLRP3 inflammasome-related and inflammasome-unrelated IL-18 production/IL-18R signalling modulated innate and adaptive cellular immunity to an ISCOMATRIX vaccine⁵¹.

When co-administered with MPLA in mouse antigen-presenting cells, QS-21 was identified as an NLRP3 inflammasome activator, inducing caspase 1-dependent IL-1β/IL-18 production; however, this signalling pathway may inhibit the adjuvant effects of QS-21 in vivo⁵².

Integrating the previous mechanistic insights, a dual mechanism of action has been recently proposed, whereby QS-21 would act on both T cells and antigen-presenting cells (i.e. dendritic cells) in receptor-mediated and non-receptor-mediated manners, respectively⁵³. According to this model, the triterpene aldehyde group reacts with ε-amino groups, likely from the CD2 receptor on T cells, forming an imine that provides T cells with a co-stimulatory signal required for T cell activation and T_H1 immunity⁴⁵. The proposed mechanism on dendritic cells involves cholesterol-mediated internalization of QS-21 (and exogenous antigens) by interaction with its triterpene and acyl chain, followed by lysosomal destabilization. This leads to dendritic cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, as well as antigen release to the cytosol for further processing and antigen cross-presentation to CD8 T cells, promoting cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses (Fig. 1c).

Moreover, QS-21-based chemical probes, including radiolabelled and fluorescent synthetic variants, have been utilized in in vivo biodistribution and fluorescence imaging studies to investigate their mechanisms of action. Adjuvant-active saponin probes (co-administered with ovalbumin (OVA) as a prototypic antigen) localized at the injection site and in the draining lymph nodes preferentially over structurally related inactive/attenuated congeners, and the most active fluorescein-labelled saponin was internalized into dendritic cells³⁸. These studies suggest a role for adjuvant-active QS variants in the trafficking of OVA by antigen-presenting cells to the draining lymph nodes, and set the stage for additional investigations with related saponin probes that are ongoing in our group to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of these synthetic saponin adjuvants.

Nonetheless, the variety of structurally distinct saponin adjuvants, some of them devoid of the C4-aldehyde, and the lack of adjuvant activity of other saponin families makes it unlikely that a single, universal mechanism could be operative for QS-21, related synthetic variants and other non-QS saponin adjuvants⁵³. In any case, the identification of the cellular receptor responsible for interaction with aldehyde-containing saponins via imine formation with the C4-aldehyde substituent would provide solid experimental evidence for the suggested role of this group in saponin adjuvant activity, as well as for the proposed mechanism of action of QS-21. The fact that conservative structural modifications and key functionalities such as the aldehyde and hydroxyl groups have such an impact on saponin immunopotentiation hints at mechanisms of action that may only be applicable to closely related saponins with sufficient structural similarity. The established correlation between three-dimensional structure and adjuvant activity implies that saponin conformation is vital for activity and may contribute to proper biodistribution, subcellular localization and/or target binding. This feature, together with the pronounced SAR within this saponin class, suggests a mechanism of action involving interaction with currently unknown (macro)molecular targets.

α-Galactosylceramide-derived adjuvants

α-GalCer (KRN7000) is a marine-sponge-derived synthetic glycolipid with antitumour and immunostimulatory properties. Structurally, it contains a galactose attached through an α-O-glycosidic linkage to a C18 phytosphingosine with an amide-linked, saturated C26 fatty acyl chain⁵⁴ (Fig. 2a). It binds to the non-polymorphic MHC class I (MHC-I)-like antigen-presenting molecule CD1d on dendritic cells, with its hydrophobic alkyl chains buried inside the CD1d binding groove and its polar portion at the CD1 surface, exposed to the solvent for recognition by the T cell receptor, in an orientation that is determined by conserved polar contacts with defined CD1d residues⁵⁵. Presentation of α-GalCer bound to CD1d on dendritic cells to the T cell receptor on invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells, an unconventional type of T cell lymphocyte expressing a semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor restricted to CD1d and characterized by an invariant α-chain⁵⁶) leads to iNKT cell activation. While iNKT cells only comprise a small fraction of the overall T cells in the human bloodstream, they represent a special population of lymphocytes owing to their ability to provide rapid response. Thus, these activated iNKT cells immediately produce T_H1-type (IFNγ) and T_H2-type (IL-4) cytokines upon antigen presentation, stimulating innate and adaptive immune responses⁵⁷. This unconventional population, characterized by the lack of recognition of classical peptide antigens, limited T cell receptor diversity and scarce abundance, has been shown to induce potent effects and responses through different mechanisms and effector functions. iNKT cells provide new opportunities for T cell immunotherapy, and for the development of defined chemical targets to impact iNKT cell activation and enhance adaptive immune responses in an adjuvant-like fashion⁵⁸.

Fig. 2. Structures of natural and synthetic α-GalCer-based adjuvants and mechanism of action of α-GalCer.

a | Structure of natural α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) and key structural modifications and their impact on activity and cytokine profile production⁶⁰. b,c | Structures of synthetic α-GalCer variants inducing T helper 2 (T_H2)-biased (OCH, panel b)⁸⁷ and T_H1-biased (7DW8-5, panel c)⁹⁶ responses. d | Schematic representation of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell activation and α-GalCer mechanism of action¹²⁰. α-GalCer presentation on antigen-presenting cell (APC) surface in association with CD1d enables activation of iNKT cells by interaction with their invariant T cell receptor (iTCR). iNKT cells rapidly secrete both pro-inflammatory (T_H1) and anti-inflammatory (T_H2) cytokines, such as interferon-γ (IFNγ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), respectively. Depending on several factors, including the nature of the glycolipid antigen, its loading mode into CD1d protein, cytokine milieu, cell types that present the glycolipid antigen, co-stimulatory interactions and frequency of treatment, activated iNKT cells can exhibit a diverse range of responses on other cell types, such as B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and NK cells. Part d adapted with permission from ref.⁶⁰, ACS, from ref.⁶³, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), and with permission from ref.¹²⁰, Future Medicine.

Structure–activity relationships and synthetic α-GalCer variants

Despite the therapeutic potential of α-GalCer, the conflicting activities of the elicited T_H1 and T_H2 cytokines have limited its clinical efficacy⁵⁹. This has driven the development of synthetic analogues that can influence NKT cell–dendritic cell interactions and stimulate preferential expression of T_H1 or T_H2 cytokines by incorporating defined chemical modifications at the galactose and lipid moieties⁶⁰ (Fig. 2a), guided by the crystal structure of CD1d–α-GalCer⁶¹ and the NKT T cell receptor–CD1d–α-GalCer⁶².

The synthesis and evaluation of these derivatives has enabled accurate SAR studies, identifying key structural features required for T_H1-biased and T_H2-biased responses (Fig. 2a) and more potent and T_H-selective α-GalCer variants (Fig. 2b,c) for use as vaccine adjuvants⁶³.

Early modifications at the sugar moiety revealed that the pyranose form and especially the α-anomeric configuration are essential for adjuvant activity⁵⁷. Moreover, α-d-fucose (Fuc) and, to a lesser extent, α-glucose, but not α-mannose-linked ceramides, were found to stimulate iNKT cells, with α-GlcCer being less active. These results suggest the importance of the galactose 4′-OH and especially the 2′-OH in immunostimulation, while the 6′-OH is dispensable for activity⁶³. As key positions involved in the interaction with the T cell receptor and in the stability of the CD1d–glycolipid–T cell receptor complex, modifications at the 4′, 3′ and especially 2′ positions (e.g. H (deoxy), F, N₃, NH₂, NHAc, OMe, O(CH₂)₂OH = 4′-O-methyl or 4′-O-ethanol-α-GalCer) led to reduced bioactivity^64,65 (Fig. 2a). Notable exceptions were the 3-O-sulfo-α-GalCer^66,67 and the 4-O-phenylpropyl-α-GalCer analogues⁶⁸, which induced comparable T_H1/T_H2 responses, as well as benzyl-modified 4-O variants that promoted T_H1-biased immunity^69,70. Thus, while deletion or modifications at the 2 position abolished activity, particular variations at the 3-OH (sulfation) and especially the 4-OH (phenyl groups) were less critical for immunostimulation (Fig. 2a).

In contrast to the secondary hydroxyl groups, the galactose 6′-OH is not involved in H-bond formation within the CD1d–α-GalCer–T cell receptor complex. Therefore, modifications of the sugar moiety have mainly focused on this position. In addition to the T_H1/T_H2-inducing 6′-deoxy analogue (α-FucCer)⁷¹, potent T_H1-biasing variants of α-GalCer included C6-substituted amides, ureas⁷² and carbamates, such as NU-α-GalCer and PyrC-α-GalCer, which showed promising antitumour activity in mice^73,74.

A variety of other groups have been attached at the C6′ position. These included monosaccharides, for example, the immunologically active α-Gal(1→6)α-GalCer analogue⁷⁵, amino acids attached through a triazole linker to provide variants (Lys-α-GalCer) that exhibited good selectivity for T_H1 responses⁷⁶, as well as biotin and small fluorophores^77,78, yielding immunostimulatory-active analogues for further mechanistic investigation.

Among the diverse galactose-modified analogues, including the more stable and strongly T_H1-inducing α-carba-GalCer variant in which the endocyclic oxygen is replaced by a carbon⁷⁹ (Fig. 2a), only a few elicited modest T_H2 profiles, namely, 6-triazole-substituted derivatives⁸⁰ and 6-O-alkylated analogues bearing long ether-linked aliphatic chains⁸¹.

Substitution of the exocyclic glycosidic oxygen by a methylene unit provided the more stable C-glycoside analogue (α-C-GalCer) (Fig. 2a), which exhibited a marked T_H1 response (IFNγ and IL-12 cytokines) and superior antimalaria and antimetastatic activity in mice⁸², but was inactive in human cells⁸³. The thioglycoside analogue α-S-GalCer was also synthesized⁸⁴, showing no bioactivity in mice, while inducing a T_H1 profile in humans⁸⁵.

A variety of α-GalCer analogues with diverse structural modifications in the lipid moiety have also been synthesized, enabling further SAR studies (Fig. 2a). Selective T_H2-inducing analogues were obtained by truncation of the fatty acyl and/or phytosphingosine chains⁸⁶ and by incorporation of double bonds into the fatty acyl chain, such as the OCH (ref.⁸⁷) (Fig. 2b) and α-GalCerC20:2 analogues, respectively⁸⁸. Additional acyl chain modifications that yielded strong T_H2-biased cytokine responses included (1) bioisosteric replacement of the acyl chain amide with a triazole, especially in long-chain analogues⁸⁹, (2) incorporation of an amide in short fatty acid chain derivatives for hydrogen bonding with polar residues in the CD1d pocket (‘anchoring effect’)^90,91, (3) incorporation of α-fluorocarbonyl moiety at the acyl chain terminus⁹² and (4) introduction of a polar chloroacetylamide terminal group in short acyl chain analogues for covalent linkage with CD1d pocket residues⁹³ (Fig. 2a).

Based on activity and structure studies⁹⁴, introduction of an aromatic group at the fatty acyl chain terminus led to potent T_H1 cytokine (IFNγ) secretion⁹⁵ (Fig. 2a). For example, the fluorophenyl C10 fatty acid derivative 7DW8-5 (ref.⁹⁶) (Fig. 2c) showed stronger adjuvant activity than α-GalCer in HIV, malaria and influenza vaccines⁹⁷, while the 4-(4-fluorophenoxy) phenyl undecanoyl analogue (C34) offered superior protective antibacterial and antiviral efficacies⁹⁸ and more potent adjuvant activity with a Globo-H conjugate cancer vaccine⁹⁹.

Chemical modifications on the phytosphingosine polar portion (e.g. H (deoxy), F) revealed that both the 4-OH and especially the 3-OH are important for NKT cell activation^100–104 (Fig. 2a). A doubly modified α-GalCer variant combining a 4-deoxy-phytosphingosine chain with a hydrocinnamoyl ester on the galactose C6′-OH (AH10-7) induced strong T_H1 bias and antitumour iNKT cell responses in mice¹⁰⁵, while synthetic diether-containing acyl chain analogues promoted selective T_H17 cell responses (IL-17) in vitro¹⁰⁶. More recently, a potent photoswitchable analogue incorporating an azobenzene within the acyl chain was developed, which enhanced T_H1/T_H2 cytokine production upon ultraviolet irradiation¹⁰⁷.

Moreover, analogues bearing biotin, NBD fluorophore (NBD-α-GalCer) and benzophenone at the acyl chain terminus were developed to investigate CD1d distribution and glycolipid presentation in dendritic cells, with the latter two showing superior immunostimulatory activity to α-GalCer itself^108–110.

Synthetic self-adjuvanting vaccines

Based on the SAR above, α-GalCer variants have been covalently attached to carbohydrate and peptide epitopes to generate synthetic ‘self-adjuvanting’ vaccines incorporating the adjuvant and antigen components in the same molecule.

Cavallari et al. conjugated the Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule polysaccharide CPS4 to the galactose C6′-OH of α-GalCer, elongated with an amino linker, yielding a carbohydrate-lipid vaccine that induced CPS-specific memory B cells and high-affinity IgG antibodies protective against pneumococcal infection in mice¹¹¹. Several carbohydrate-based cancer vaccine candidates have been synthesized by attaching tumour-associated threonine-linked Tn (α-GalNAc-O-Thr)¹¹² and sialyl Tn (Neu5Ac(α2→6)α-GalNAc) (STn)¹¹³ antigens to the galactose C6 position via amide linkages, providing conjugates that, upon liposomal formulation, elicited strong antigen-specific T_H1-type/T_H2-type IgG antibodies in mice. Most recently, Li and colleagues prepared a C6′-azido α-GalCer variant to conjugate Tn-MUC1 glycopeptide antigens using click chemistry to give vaccine candidates that induced potent tumour-specific IgG antibody responses¹¹⁴. In another example, an immunostimulatory 6′-deoxy-6′-thio analogue was synthesized and attached to the MHC-I OVA_257–264 epitope via disulfide or triazole linkages, yielding vaccine constructs that elicited potent, peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo, at levels higher than the unconjugated components¹¹⁵.

Notably, Anderson et al. developed a strategy based on an observed reversible rearrangement within the ceramide portion to link, via oxime and/or triazole linkages, peptide antigens to an α-GalCer pro-adjuvant, in which the acyl chain is deliberately rearranged. Upon O→N acyl chain isomerization, the corresponding peptide–glycolipid conjugates enhanced T cell immunity and efficacies in allergy¹¹⁶, cancer¹¹⁷ and influenza¹¹⁸ models.

Mechanisms of action

The adjuvant activity of α-GalCer depends on iNKT cell activation and requires the interaction between the upregulated CD40 co-stimulatory molecule on dendritic cells and CD40L on iNKT cells. Together with the induced increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, this results in an adjuvant effect that enhances dendritic cell activity and, subsequently, T cell activation (Fig. 2d), including CD8 T cell cross-priming^119,120. Moreover, iNKT cell activation enhances B cell activity and antibody production, dependent on the interaction between CD1–α-GalCer complexes on B cells and dendritic cells with T cell receptors on iNKT cells¹²¹.

Extensive SAR studies on α-GalCer glycolipids have improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for controlling iNKT cell activation, enabling rational design of improved synthetic α-GalCer variants for more precise and predictable immune targeting. These mechanisms include the impact of α-GalCer structure on the affinity of the interaction between the T cell receptor and the CD1d–glycolipid complex, and the effects on the kinetics and cellular pathways involved in glycolipid presentation by CD1d. While an early simple model attributed high T cell receptor affinities to T_H1 skewing, the affinity of the T cell receptor/CD1d–glycolipid interaction does not fully correlate with the induced cytokine bias. Additionally, other factors, such as the half-life of the ternary complex and the uptake and presentation by antigen-presenting cells, are important for iNKT cell activation and the induced cytokine profile¹²².

In general, T_H1-biased responses seem to be favoured by modifications that stabilize α-GalCer presentation and T cell receptor/CD1d–α-GalCer complexes, namely, O-to-C replacement in the carbasugar and α-C-GalCer variants, and by variations that increase hydrophobicity, such as incorporation of aromatic groups at the 6″ position and at the lipid chains terminus. On the other hand, T_H2 immunity is promoted by modifications that decrease the half-life of the ternary complex, slightly disturb ligand presentation or improve glycolipid aqueous solubility, such as invariants with shortened, unsaturated or hydroxylated lipid moieties⁶⁰. This solubility effect is related to differences in requirements for cellular uptake and intracellular loading of the glycolipids onto CD1d. While T_H1-biasing α-GalCer analogues require internalization by antigen-presenting cells and endosomal-dependent presentation by CD1d molecules in plasma membrane lipid rafts, less hydrophobic T_H2-skewing α-GalCer analogues can be loaded directly into cell surface CD1d outside of lipid rafts¹²³. Thus, lipid raft localization is likely one major mechanism responsible for cytokine biasing and emerges as a powerful tool in the functional screening of new variants¹²⁴ for the development of tailored synthetic α-GalCer-based adjuvants.

Lipopolysaccharide-based adjuvants

Lipopolysaccharides, commonly known as endotoxins, represent a wide and highly heterogeneous class of bacterial outer membrane glycolipids from Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli, Neisseria meningitidis and Salmonella minnesota)¹²⁵. They are essential for bacterial survival and have endotoxic properties that can be exploited in the context of vaccine adjuvants¹²⁶. Lipopolysaccharides are sensed by the immune system principally via membrane-bound TLR4, which recognizes lipopolysaccharides extracellularly or within endosomes, inducing a signalling cascade that results in inflammation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. More recently, TLR4-independent lipopolysaccharide recognition systems have also been identified: transient receptor potential channel-dependent sensing of extracellular lipopolysaccharide in neuronal cells and caspase 4/11 as a cytoplasmic sensor of intracellular lipopolysaccharide within the innate immune cells (e.g. macrophages) that leads to secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and inflammatory cell death¹²⁷. Thus, lipopolysaccharides trigger innate immunity via caspase-mediated non-canonical inflammasome activation, as well as TLR4 binding¹²⁸, leading to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), IL-1 and IL-6.

Lipopolysaccharides are composed of an external repeating O-antigen polysaccharide chain, a core oligosaccharide and the highly conserved TLR4-activating lipid A, which comprises a phosphorylated β(1→6)-linked glucosamine disaccharide esterified at C2, C3, C2′ and C3′, with fatty acid chains varying in length and number, depending on the species¹²⁹ (Fig. 3a,b). Lipid A has potent adjuvant activity, but the massive immune response it induces, characterized by sepsis and septic shock, has limited its clinical use. This has led to the development of potent and less toxic lipid A-based immunomodulators such as the clinically approved MPLA adjuvant¹³⁰ (Fig. 3c). The bioactivity of lipid A and MPLA is strongly influenced by its heterogeneous chemical composition, comprising a number of carbohydrate functionalities that could influence their properties, as well as TLR4 binding and signalling. To address this limit on their clinical use, synthetic chemistry has emerged as an attractive means to provide practical access to structurally defined derivatives with distinct, potentially improved, clinical and immunological properties.

Fig. 3. Structures of lipid A and monophosphoryl lipid A and its mechanism of action.

a | General structure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with its three main domains, lipid A, core oligosaccharide and O-antigen polysaccharide. b | Structure of natural lipid A from Escherichia coli¹³⁴. c,d | Structures of chemically modified monophosphoryl lipid A from Salmonella minnesota R595 (clinically approved, panel c)¹⁴⁷ and from Neisseria meningitidis (panel d)¹³⁴. e | Schematic representation of LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling pathway and lipid A mechanism of action¹⁶⁶. LPS-binding protein (LBP)-associated LPS (or lipid A) is first transferred to CD14 and then delivered to myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), enabling formation of the LPS–MD2–TLR4 ternary complex, which drives dimerization of TLR4 receptors. LPS/TLR4 signalling involves intracellular recruitment of Toll/interlukin-1 (IL-1) receptor domain-containing adapter protein (TIRAP), TRIF-related adapter molecule (TRAM), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF) co-receptors. While the MyD88-dependent pathway promotes pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, the MyD88-independent pathway mediates the induction of type I interferons. Part e adapted with permission from ref.¹³², Wiley, and with permission from ref.¹⁶⁶, Elsevier.

Structure–activity relationship studies and variants of lipid A

Extensive studies using natural and, especially, synthetic lipid A variants with modifications on the sugar, phosphorylation and acyl chain pattern (number and length) have provided key SAR insights that distinguish between agonistic and antagonistic activities, as well as disconnecting lipid A adjuvant activity from its pro-inflammatory toxicity^131–134.

Boons and colleagues synthesized several monophosphorylated and diphosphorylated lipid A derivatives by selective acylation of an appropriately functionalized disaccharide intermediate at its C2, C3, C2′ and C3′ positions, revealing important acyl chain features in terms of number (six versus seven), pattern (symmetrical 3+3 over asymmetrical 4+2 arrangement) and length (shorter versus longer) that induce higher TLR4 activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines¹³⁵. The synthetic monophosphorylated derivatives exhibited less agonistic activity, confirming previous SAR studies^136,137, and in agreement with the reduced toxicity shown by MPLA¹³⁸ (Fig. 3c,d). Moreover, synthetic lipid A analogues containing the core oligosaccharide Kdo (3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid) units were more active than those lacking this moiety, highlighting its importance for agonistic activity¹³⁹. Analogues with phosphate-to-carboxylic-acid substitution retained agonistic activity^140–142, while monosaccharide deletion decreased lipid A potency but also toxicity, yielding simplified variants with encouraging therapeutic profiles^143,144. Collectively, the 3:1 ratio between acyl chains and phosphate groups seems to be important for agonistic activity¹⁴⁵. Notably, replacement of the reducing glucosamine unit with an N-acylated aglycon provided aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphate monosaccharide analogues with adjuvant activity such as RC-529 (Ribi.529)^146,147.

Semi-synthetic E. coli-derived MPLA analogues have also been developed by site-selective chemical modification of the lipid pattern (in terms of number, length and position of the acyl chains), the 4′-phosphate and the 6′-hydroxyl group, which was oxidized to the carboxylic acid to then insert an olefin handle for further functionalization. One of such variants bearing a pentenyl moiety at the C6′ position induced a similar cytokine profile to MPLA, highlighting its promising adjuvant activity, and was conjugated to a Tn antigen derivative via thiol–ene coupling to generate a self-adjuvanting vaccine candidate¹⁴⁸ (see below). Most recently, rigid α-GlcN(1↔1′)α-Man skewed lipid A mimetics were rationally designed and synthesized, eliciting controllable TLR4 activation and caspase 4/11 oligomerization without inducing caspase 11 protease activity and the associated toxicity¹⁴⁹.

Monophosphoryl lipid A

MPLA (3-O-desacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid A, MPL from GSK), a detoxified S. minnesota R595 lipid A analogue obtained through hydrolysis of the 1-O-phosphono and (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl groups¹⁵⁰ (Fig. 3c), is the most clinically relevant lipid A derivative⁵. MPLA has been shown to increase antibody and cellular responses without the toxicity associated with lipid A, and has been approved as part of the alum-containing AS04 Adjuvant System in vaccines against HPV¹⁵¹ and hepatitis B¹⁵². Successful MPLA combinations with other adjuvants such as QS-21 have also been developed (i.e. AS15, AS02 and, especially, the clinically approved AS01) that induce synergistic immunopotentiating activities and more effective immune responses against a number of infectious diseases and cancers^153–155.

Several studies have exploited MPLA as both a carrier and an adjuvant by covalently linking different haptens/antigens to its 6′ position to create a variety of MPLA derivatives. In an early example, a semi-synthetic trinitrophenol–MPLA conjugate, functionalized through an amino chemical handle at the C6′-OH (ref.¹⁵⁶), elicited high titres of anti-trinitrophenol IgG antibodies in mice, highlighting MPLA as a T cell-independent carrier for induction of humoral immunity¹⁵⁷. An alternative semi-synthetic approach involved derivatization of the C6′-OH of E. coli-derived MPLA to install reactive moieties (azides, alkynes, olefins or thiols) for further conjugation (of the alkene-bearing MPLA derivative) with thiol-containing Tn and TF (Gal(β1→3)α-GalNAc) antigens, providing MPLA–tumour-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) conjugates that induced increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF and IFNγ) in vitro with low toxicity¹⁵⁸. Over the past decade, Guo and colleagues have chemically synthesized and evaluated several fully synthetic, self-adjuvanting vaccine candidates¹³⁴ based on the N. meningitidis¹⁵⁹ (Fig. 3d) and E. coli¹⁶⁰ MPLA structures conjugated to bacterial antigens¹⁶¹ and TACAs^162–164. In mouse immunizations, liposomal formulations of these constructs generally elicited high levels of antigen-specific IgG antibodies that mediated toxicity to the bacterial cell¹⁶¹ and complement-dependent cytotoxicity to the antigen-expressing MCF-7 cancer cell.

Mechanisms of action

The mechanism of action of lipopolysaccharide starts with binding of lipid A to lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, which transfers lipopolysaccharide to the CD14 receptor and then to the co-receptor protein myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), which is associated to TLR4 forming a heterodimer, and directly binds lipid A^165,166 (Fig. 3e). The acyl chains of lipid A interact specifically with the MD2 hydrophobic region, while the disaccharide phosphate groups make electrostatic and hydrogen-bond interactions with charged residues in MD2 and TLR4, promoting dimerization of the lipopolysaccharide/MD2/TLR4 complex^167,168. This, in turn, results in dimerization of the intracellular Toll/interlukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains of TLR4, initiating the lipopolysaccharide/TLR4 signalling pathway through two distinct intracellular cascades by recruitment of four adapter proteins: MyD88, TIR domain-containing adapter protein (TIRAP; also known as Mal), TRIF-related adapter molecule (TRAM) and Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing IFNβ (TRIF)¹⁶⁹. The MyD88-dependent pathway involves recruitment of TIRAP and MyD88 to the TIR domain, resulting in early activation of NF-κB, strong production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-1β, and T_H1 cell responses¹⁷⁰. The TRIF/TAM-dependent pathway involves CD14-mediated TLR4/MD2 internalization into endosomes¹⁷¹ and induces late-stage NF-κB activation with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It also activates the transcription factor IRF3, which leads to IFNβ and IFN-inducible gene expression with production of type I interferons^172,173 (Fig. 3e). More recently, the cysteine protease caspase 4/11 has been discovered as a cytosolic lipopolysaccharide receptor that activates the non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome pathway via intracellular lipopolysaccharide interaction independent of TLR4 (refs^174–176), adding further complexity to the receptor-mediated, lipopolysaccharide-induced cellular activation that triggers innate immunity¹²⁸. This caspase 11-dependent lipopolysaccharide-sensing pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation is associated with adjuvant effects by maximally promoting inflammation via caspase 1-mediated maturation of the pro-inflammatory IL-1 family cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18)¹²⁸, and by driving pyroptosis, a caspase 1-dependent inflammatory cell death¹⁷⁷.

The attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine production and lower toxicity of MPLA has been associated with the preferential induction of TRIF signalling over the MyD88 pathway¹⁷⁸, which is caused by MPLA’s weak ability to form CD14-mediated TLR4/MD2 heterotetramers at the plasma membrane owing to the lack of the 1-O-phosphate group^179,180. Additional explanations of MPLA-attenuated toxicity are related to its inability to activate caspase 1, which results in reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-18 (ref.¹⁸¹), and, alternatively, to its ability to induce high levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (ref.¹⁸²). MPLA is able to induce TNF independently of CD14 via MyD88 signalling and to induce TRIF-mediated responses that include upregulation of the co-stimulatory molecule CD86 and IFNβ induction, thus retaining significant lipid A immunostimulatory activity without its associated toxicity. These favourable features have fuelled its successful clinical advancement as an adjuvant for human vaccines¹⁵³. MPLA is reported to recruit and activate antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells to produce cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules that induce IFNγ production by antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells, promoting a T_H1-skewed or mixed T_H1/T_H2-type immune response, depending on the co-administered antigen and route of administration^183–185. The impaired TLR4 activation by MPLA via TRIF-mediated signalling has been shown to influence CD8⁺ T cell responses, promoting lower memory CD8⁺ T cell-mediated protective immunity than lipopolysaccharide in immunized mice¹⁸⁶. In non-human primates, MPLA induced systemic expansion of neutrophils and CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes with subsequent migration to the lymph nodes, correlating with local pro-inflammatory gene transcription¹⁸⁷.

Zwitterionic polysaccharide adjuvants

In general, carbohydrates have traditionally been considered T cell-independent antigens¹⁸⁸, typically triggering the innate immune system and inducing weak antibody responses, without affinity maturation and isotype switching. To achieve T cell-dependent B cell responses, carbohydrate-based epitopes have classically been conjugated to immunocarrier proteins that serve both as a scaffold for multivalent epitope presentation and as a source of CD4⁺ peptide epitopes for T_H cell activation^189,190. These activated T_H cells provide B lymphocytes with co-stimulatory signals via CD40L/CD40 co-receptor interaction, which, together with the secreted cytokine milieu, ultimately leads to the generation of high-affinity, isotype-switched IgG antibodies and a memory effect.

Zwitterionic polysaccharides are immunomodulatory bacterial polysaccharides bearing high density of positively and negatively charged carbohydrate residues¹⁹¹. The most prominent zwitterionic polysaccharides include polysaccharide (PS) A1, PS A2 and PS B, which were isolated from a Bacteroides fragilis strain. These carbohydrate structures have branched repeating units of four, five and six monosaccharides, respectively, with each oligosaccharide unit bearing one amino and carboxylate group, plus an additional phosphonate residue in the case of PS B^192,193 (Fig. 4a). The S. pneumoniae type 1 polysaccharide (Sp 1) contains a linear trisaccharide motif comprising a cationic amine-containing monosaccharide, followed by two negatively charged (carboxylate-bearing) sugar residues¹⁹⁴ (Fig. 4b). Capsular polysaccharides from Staphylococcus aureus type 5 (CP 5) and type 8 (CP 8) share a similar linear trisaccharide repeating unit with zwitterionic character but differ in acetylation sites and linkages between sugars¹⁹⁵ (Fig. 4c).

Fig. 4. Structures of natural zwitterionic polysaccharides and their proposed mechanism of action.

a | Structures of natural zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) PS A1, PS A2 and PS B from Bacteroides fragilis¹⁹¹. b,c | Structures of natural ZPSs from Streptococcus pneumoniae (type 1, Sp 1, panel b) and Staphylococcus aureus (type 5, CP5, and type 8, CP8, panel c)²⁰². d | Schematic representation of the proposed model for ZPS mechanism of action and crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune compartments²¹⁵. Within the innate immunity context (left), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-mediated recognition of zwitterionic polysaccharide induces the activation of the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent pathway in antigen-presenting cells (e.g. dendritic cells), leading to NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-12 (IL-12)), NO production, and MHC class II (MHC-II) and co-stimulatory molecule expression and upregulation. Adaptive immunity events (right) involving interaction between T cell receptor (TCR) and processed ZPSs presented on MHC-II, along with co-stimulation via CD86/CD28 and IL-12/IL-12R interactions, ultimately trigger ZPS-activated CD4⁺ T cells to produce the T helper 1 (T_H1) cytokine interferon-γ (IFNγ). DC, dendritic cell. Part d adapted with permission from ref.²¹⁵, Rockefeller University Press.

Unlike other carbohydrate antigens, zwitterionic polysaccharides are considered T cell-dependent antigens, as they can be recognized by and activate T_H cells through the following mechanism. Upon processing, presentation of zwitterionic polysaccharide fragments to CD4⁺ T_H cells by antigen-presenting cells occurs on the cell surface in complex with MHC-II molecules. Following interaction through T cell receptors, the resulting activated T_H cells produce cytokines and bind to B cells, whose activation leads to IgM-to-IgG class switching and affinity maturation with production of high-affinity IgG antibodies and memory B cells¹⁹⁶. However, in addition to their antigen function, zwitterionic polysaccharides have further immunostimulatory properties and their role as adjuvants is well known, especially when co-administered with poorly immunogenic antigens.

The unique structures and activity of these zwitterionic polysaccharides have encouraged researchers to chemically modify natural bacterial PS and to develop synthetic versions and new zwitterionic polysaccharide conjugates that have been investigated in immunological and mechanistic studies.

Structure–activity relationship studies and semi-synthetic variants

Structural studies with naturally derived zwitterionic polysaccharide using NMR and molecular dynamics simulations^192,197, as well as circular dichroism¹⁹⁸, suggested key features responsible for zwitterionic polysaccharide immunological activity, namely, an α-helical structure and the zwitterionic charge motif presented as alternating positive and negative charges on monosaccharide residues pointing at opposite sides of the helix. These zwitterionic repeating units are required for adjuvant properties, as chemical modifications of the charged amino and carboxylic groups abolished adjuvant activity^191,199.

Wack and colleagues introduced, by rational chemical modification, positive charges into naturally anionic group B Streptococcus polysaccharides, generating chemically derived zwitterionic polysaccharide adjuvants that induced activation of antigen-presenting cells via TLR2 and of T cells in vitro²⁰⁰. Notably, co-administration of zwitterionic polysaccharide with tetanus toxoid in mice increased protein-specific IgG antibodies, highlighting its adjuvant activity in vivo. Compared with native polysaccharide conjugates, zwitterionic polysaccharide conjugation to the CRM₁₉₇ carrier protein elicited higher anti-CRM₁₉₇ titres, superior TLR2-dependent protective antibody responses against bacterial polysaccharides and enhanced protein-specific but not zwitterionic polysaccharide-specific T cell responses, correlating with its ability to activate TLR2-expressing dendritic cells. However, zwitterionic polysaccharide alone did not induce anti-polysaccharide IgG antibodies, suggesting the need for the protein carrier and T cell help for zwitterionic polysaccharide immunogenicity²⁰¹.

Zwitterionic polysaccharides have been the subject of several synthetic efforts by the chemistry community, including the chemical synthesis of the zwitterionic oligosaccharide repeating units of Sp1, PS A1, CP5, CP8 (ref.²⁰²) and of the Morganella morganii zwitterionic polysaccharide²⁰³. The Andreana group synthesized the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of PS A1 using a linear glycosylation strategy²⁰⁴ and has also exploited the immunomodulatory and carrier properties of PS A1 and PS B to construct entirely carbohydrate-based conjugate vaccines incorporating the Tn, TF and STn TACAs²⁰⁵. The synthetic approach towards these conjugates involved site-specific chemical modification of PS A1 by oxidative cleavage of the d-galactofuranose vicinal diol, followed by oxime ligation through the resulting aldehyde with TACAs bearing aminooxy groups at their anomeric position. In their first example, a semi-synthetic Tn–PS A1 construct elicited strong Tn-specific IgG3 antibody responses in mice, highlighting the dual role of PS A1 as both a carrier and an adjuvant²⁰⁶. Subsequently, they prepared an STn–PS A1 conjugate that, upon mouse immunization with an MPLA-derived adjuvant, generated robust cellular immunity with significant IFNγ production and good levels of IgM/IgG antibodies that bound to STn-expressing cancer cells and induced complement-dependent cytotoxicity²⁰⁷. The same synthetic approach was used to access an oxime-linked TF–PS B construct, which generated high titres of TF-specific IgM antibodies and lower levels of IgG1/IgG2b isotypes²⁰⁸, a response differing from the T_H1/T_H17 immunity induced by the TACA–PS A1 conjugates²⁰⁹.

Recently, Codée and colleagues synthesized Sp1 oligosaccharides encompassing from one to four repeating units (3–12 residues) following an effective stereoselective preglycosylation/postglycosylation-oxidation strategy to assemble the glycan backbone and introduce the carboxylic acid groups. By use of molecular dynamics and NMR, they showed that the observed helical 3D structure, and especially the full helical turn adopted by the nonasaccharides and dodecasaccharides, is required for optimal interaction with anti-Sp1 antibodies, as assessed by binding studies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR²¹⁰. This study identified the synthetic Sp1 nonamer and dodecamer as structural epitope mimics of the natural polysaccharide, holding promise for vaccine development and mechanistic studies to elucidate the structural basis of the zwitterionic polysaccharide–MHC-II interaction and their molecular mode of action.

Mechanisms of action

Kasper and colleagues first identified and reported a mechanism whereby, upon pinocytosis or receptor-mediated endocytosis in antigen-presenting cells, the zwitterionic polysaccharide PS A is presented by MHC-II molecules analogously to conventional protein-based antigens^196,211. Zwitterionic polysaccharides are processed in endosomes, where a nitric-oxide-mediated oxidative burst produces shorter zwitterionic polysaccharide fragments (12–15 kDa, corresponding to ~15 repeating units). These fragments are loaded onto MHC-II molecules, and the zwitterionic polysaccharide–MHC-II complex is presented on the antigen-presenting cell surface for interaction with CD4⁺ T cell receptors, which results in T cell proliferation and T_H1-type cytokine production (Fig. 4d). PS A uptake by dendritic cells has been shown to involve the dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) receptor²¹² and to induce cell maturation with increased expression of co-stimulatory CD80 and CD86 molecules. This, in turn, leads to T cell activation and IFNγ production that requires dendritic cell secretion of IL-12 and activation of the STAT4 transcription factor²¹³.

Interestingly, removal of the zwitterionic charges from PS A has been reported to abolish both in vitro and in vivo MHC-II binding, albeit without impairing antigen-presenting cell-mediated uptake, vesicular trafficking or processing^199,214. In addition to DC-SIGN, TLR2 has been identified as a PS A receptor that plays a critical role in initiating the innate immune response and priming the adaptive immune responses to the polysaccharide. Upon TLR2 binding, PS A generates a signalling cascade in antigen-presenting cells that leads to several important events, including activation of NF-κB, production of pro-inflammatory TNF and other molecules that modulate adaptive immunity²¹⁵.

With these data, an integrated model for PS A-dependent activation of dendritic cells and CD4⁺ T cells was proposed, linking the innate and adaptive immune system (Fig. 4d). PS A triggers the innate immunity arm in a TLR2-dependent fashion, resulting in NF-κB-dependent production of nitric oxide, which is critical for the processing of DC-SIGN-endocytosed zwitterionic polysaccharide, enabling presentation of short zwitterionic polysaccharide fragments on MHC-II molecules. Interaction between zwitterionic polysaccharide–MHC-II complexes and CD4⁺ T cell receptors in conjunction with co-stimulation leads to production of IFNγ by CD4⁺ T_H cells, a process enhanced by IL-12 secretion by dendritic cells owing to TLR2 stimulation. Along these lines, TLR2-mediated dendritic cell activation has been proposed to be the mechanism of in vivo adjuvant activity and immunogenicity of natural zwitterionic polysaccharide and zwitterionic-polysaccharide-conjugated vaccines, leading to improved T cell priming and potent immune responses²⁰¹.

Other carbohydrate-based adjuvants

Mycobacterial carbohydrate adjuvants

Lipoarabinomannans

Lipoarabinomannan is the major mycobacteria cell wall glycolipid component, and comprises an acylated phosphatidyl-myo-inositol anchor glycosylated with a mannan backbone and an arabinan branch that differ between mycobacteria species²¹⁶. Depending on their lipopolysaccharide structure, lipoarabinomannans have varying immunomodulatory activities²¹⁷. They can activate MyD88 and complement pathways with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-12)²¹⁸ via interaction with TLR2 and CLRs²¹⁹ (dectin-2 (ref.²²⁰), mannose receptor²²¹, DC-SIGN²²²) on antigen-presenting cells²²³, but can also induce anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10)²²⁴, as reported for mannosylated lipoarabinomannans (ManLAMs)²²⁵, which highlights carbohydrate signalling intricacy.

Muramyl dipeptide

Muramyl dipeptide (N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine-d-isoglutamine) is a glycosylated dipeptide identified from a bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan fraction with adjuvant activity and constitutes the minimal immunoactive component of Freund’s complete adjuvant²²⁶. Upon uptake via clathrin-mediated internalization, muramyl dipeptide binds the intracellular receptor NOD2 (ref.²²⁷), leading to NF-κB and MAPK activation and induction of pro-inflammatory responses that promote dendritic cell differentiation and enhance CD8⁺ T cell cross-presentation²²⁸. Early in vivo studies with carbohydrate analogues of muramyl dipeptide highlighted the strict structural requirement of the monosaccharide residue for adjuvant activity²²⁹. More recently, NOD2 has been shown to recognize naturally occurring muramyl dipeptide variants with modifications in the dipeptide²²⁸.

Trehalose-6,6′-dimycolate (TDM or cord factor)

TDM comprises an α-d-glucopyranosyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (trehalose) esterified with two α-alkyl, β-hydroxy fatty acid long chains (mycolic acids)²³⁰. Its potent adjuvant activity, with induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cellular immunity, requires trehalose binding to the Mincle receptor^231–233, and is mediated by the macrophage C-type lectin (MCL)^234,235. This triggers SYK–CARD9-dependent NF-κB activation, antigen-presenting cell maturation and robust T_H1/T_H17 responses in vivo²³⁶. However, its high reactogenicity makes it unsuitable for human vaccines, leading to the development of simplified, similarly potent and less toxic synthetic Mincle ligands bearing shorter acyl chains. These include trehalose-6,6′-dibehenate²³⁷ that is part of the potent T cell priming CAF01 adjuvant formulation^238–240, a glucose derivative acylated at 6-OH with 2-tetradecyloctadecanoic acid (GlcC14C18)²⁴¹ and a synthetic diacyl trehalose variant²⁴². These analogues exemplify how current advances in synthetic chemistry and chemical biology contribute to developing structurally defined, potent adjuvant molecules.

Polysaccharide-based adjuvants

α-Glucans

Dextran (α-1,6-glucan with α-1,3-branches) is an immunostimulatory microbial polysaccharide of glucose that activates NF-κB and induces pro-inflammatory responses¹⁴. Acetylated dextran microparticles have been used as antigen–adjuvant carriers, enabling their delivery and acid-mediated release, leading to increased MHC-I/MHC-II antigen presentation²⁴³ and enhanced humoral and cellular responses in vivo²⁴⁴. In mouse models, a lymph-node-targeting dextran–CpG adjuvant conjugate enhanced tumour-specific T_H1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to protein vaccines, leading to protective antitumour immunity^245,246, highlighting the applicability of dextran as an adjuvant and a carrier for cancer immunotherapy.

β-Glucans

β-Glucans are microorganism-derived linear or branched β-1,3-glucose polysaccharides that bind to C-type lectin dectin-1 and other pattern recognition receptors, such as CR3 on myeloid immune cells, promoting cytokine production and B/T cell activation, leading to enhanced humoral and cellular responses²⁴⁷. Their adjuvant activity stimulates innate and adaptive immunity through different pathways, depending on their source, structure and formulation. Zymosan (a yeast cell wall mixture of β-1,3-glucans) also activates TLR2, inducing NF-κB activation and TNF secretion²⁴⁸, albeit was later reported to induce regulatory antigen-presenting cells and immune tolerance²⁴⁹. Particulate β-glucan activates dendritic cells via dectin-1, inducing cellular and antitumour immune responses, while soluble β-glucan primes neutrophils for complement and CR3-mediated tumoricidal activity²⁵⁰. Notably, β-glucan was shown to reverse immune tolerance and restore cytokine production via dectin-1 (ref.²⁵¹), highlighting its adjuvant potential for immunotherapy²⁵². Recent studies have exploited β-glucan as a carrier and immune activator to develop synthetic conjugates that increased the immunogenicity of protein-based antigens (CRM₁₉₇, MUC1), enhancing antigen-specific antibody responses^253,254.

Fructans

Inulin is a plant-derived linear β-d-(2→1)polyfructofuranosyl-α-d-glucose polysaccharide that exists as various isoforms, with the insoluble crystalline δ-inulin having been developed as a potent adjuvant (Advax)^255,256 in vaccine clinical trials against hepatitis B and influenza^257,258. Mechanistically, Advax does not activate NF-κB and/or the inflammasome but the alternative complement pathway, and potentiates the intrinsic activity of the co-administered antigens via TNF signalling, showing low reactogenicity^256,259,260. It enhances antigen uptake and presentation by recruiting and priming antigen-presenting cells, leading to a balanced increase of T_H1/T_H2 antigen-specific cellular and humoral responses^259,261.

Mannans

Mannan is a β-1,4-mannose polysaccharide produced by plants and fungi that enhances antigen presentation and TLR4-dependent dendritic cell maturation, potentiating immune responses²⁶². It binds to mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and C-type lectin receptors, activating the complement pathway²⁶³. Mannan also activates the inflammasome, leading to caspase 1 and NF-κB activation, with production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF²⁶⁴. Mannan structures either in native, oxidized or reduced form have been conjugated to protein-based antigens and carriers as antigen-presenting cell-targeting adjuvant systems, resulting in enhanced antigen uptake and presentation, and increased T_H1/T_H2 responses^265–269. Notably, clinical trials with oxidized mannan–MUC1 vaccine demonstrated its safety and immunogenicity, showing antibody and cellular clinical responses that protected patients with early-stage breast cancer from recurrence^270–272.

Chitosan

Chitosan is a partially chemically deacetylated form of chitin (poly β-1,4-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine)²⁷³ shown to potentiate humoral and cellular responses to co-administered antigens through a depot effect and by activating macrophages and NK cells via phagocytosis to produce inflammatory cytokines^274–276. Chitosan can be internalized via charged-based interactions or receptor-mediated endocytosis, albeit no specific receptors have been identified²⁷⁷. It activates the NLRP3 inflammasome²⁷⁸ and the DNA-sensing cGAS–STING pathway that results in type I interferon-mediated dendritic cell maturation²⁷⁹, with both mechanisms being dependent on phagocytosis and lysosomal destabilization, and necessary for chitosan-promoted T_H1 cellular responses^277,280. The cGAS–STING and inflammasome pathways are mutually exclusive, depending on the lysosomal disruption induced by distinct chitosan preparations, with a minimal 3,000-Da fully deacetylated chitosan moiety being required for type I interferon responses²⁸⁰. Several chitosan formulations have been studied as carriers and adjuvants in preclinical settings, increasing vaccine delivery and immunogenicity, and potentiating immune responses^275,281.

Conclusions

The development of novel, improved adjuvants is a pressing challenge intimately linked to understanding their mechanisms of action. Despite their history and key role, adjuvants have long been used without a real insight into how exactly they potentiate the immune response, and only a few adjuvants have demonstrated sufficient potency and low toxicity to be licensed for human vaccines. This lack of knowledge has hampered the rational design of more potent and safer adjuvants, and demands further mechanistic investigations to fuel vaccine development. Carbohydrates play pivotal roles in nature, being involved in many important events in the context of the immune system. In addition, they are generally biocompatible, safe and well tolerated, which are intrinsic, favourable properties that make carbohydrate structures attractive targets for the development of vaccine adjuvants and immunomodulators. Chemical synthesis is emerging as a powerful approach on this front, providing practical access to homogeneous carbohydrate compounds for adjuvant development, as well as enabling further SAR studies towards improved synthetic analogues. In this Review, we have covered recent advances in natural and synthetic carbohydrate-based adjuvants, including current understanding of their immunopotentiation mechanisms, along with selected applications in vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. While there are important gaps in our knowledge on the exact mechanisms of action of many adjuvants, particularly saponin-based adjuvants for which no target receptor is currently known, advances in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry and newly developed chemical tools will aid in gaining new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying saponin immunopotentiation. It is expected that this progress will make it possible for both chemists and immunologists to rationally design and develop novel, carbohydrate-based adjuvants with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity for further clinical advancement in human vaccines.

Glossary

Adaptive (acquired) immunity

Evolved arm of the immune system mediated by B and T cells that acts specifically against targeted antigens to eliminate them, developing immunological memory for long-lasting protection.

Cell-mediated immunity

Involves activation of innate immune cells, T helper and antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, and release of cytokines in response to antigens to fight against infected or cancer cells.

Antigen-presenting cells

Group of immune cells including dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells that mediate cellular responses by processing and presenting antigens on their surface for recognition by T cells.

T helper 1 (T_H1) cells

Subpopulation of T helper cells specialized in clearing viruses and bacteria that invade cells. T_H1 cells are characterized by producing interferon-γ and are associated with cellular immunity.

T helper 2 (T_H2) cells

Specialized population of T helper cells that regulate antibody-mediated immune responses against extracellular pathogens, such as parasites, by producing mainly interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13 cytokines.

Triterpene glycosides

Amphiphilic natural products found in plants or marine organisms comprising diverse oligosaccharides covalently linked to squalene-derived, polycyclic C₃₀ hydrocarbon cores through O-glycosidic linkages.

Caspase

Caspases are a family of cysteine protease enzymes that play important roles in various cellular processes, including apoptosis and inflammation. Inflammatory caspases are involved in inflammatory cytokine signalling.

Lysosomes

Subcellular organelles responsible for degrading proteins and other internalized material. Maturation of endosomes and fusion into lysosomes creates an acidic environment optimal for lysosomal acid hydrolases.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines

Small proteins secreted by immune cells (e.g. interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor, interferon-γ) in response to danger signals or non-self stimuli as signalling molecules and immune mediators promoting inflammatory responses to infection.

Lipid bodies

Functionally active cellular organelles comprising a neutral lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer. Lipid bodies sequester lipid and proteins, modulating signalling pathways and inflammatory responses.

Inflammasome

Multiprotein intracellular complex of the innate immune system that activates pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in response to microbial infection and cellular damage.

iNKT cells

Subpopulation of innate-like T cells (natural killer T cells) expressing limited T cell receptor αβ chains that regulate diverse immune responses via rapid, massive inflammatory cytokine release upon α-galactosylceramide/CD1d activation.

T_H17 cell

Specialized population of T helper cells that produce mainly the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 and are implicated in immunity against bacterial and fungal infections, and also in certain inflammatory conditions.

Bacterial outer membrane

Asymmetrical lipid bilayer composed mainly of phospholipids in the inner leaflet and of lipopolysaccharide and proteins in the outer leaflet that is found in Gram-negative bacteria.

Endosomes

Membrane-delimited intracellular transport vesicles formed by endocytosis that contain material internalized from the plasma membrane. Three main endosome compartments exist: early, late and recycling endosomes.

Humoral immunity

Arm of the adaptive immunity mediated by antibodies produced by B cells against foreign antigens, triggering specific destructive mechanisms against pathogens and/or cancer cells.

CD14

Lipopolysaccharide-binding, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane glycoprotein found on myeloid cells that acts as an essential co-receptor (pattern recognition receptor) for lipopolysaccharide detection, leading to monocyte/macrophage activation and innate response initiation.

MD2

Glycoprotein that binds to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) extracellular domain, promoting its cell surface translocation and dimerization required for lipopolysaccharide binding by the TLR4/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complexes.

T cell-independent antigens

Antigens represented mainly by polysaccharide antigens that are able to stimulate B cells to produce IgM antibodies without cooperation by T helper cells, and without promoting immunological memory.

MHC-II molecules

Transmembrane proteins on the surface of professional antigen-presenting cells that present processed antigens to T helper cells, enabling antigen recognition in a ternary complex with the CD4⁺ T cell receptor.

CRM₁₉₇

Genetically modified non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin that is widely used as a carrier protein to improve the immunogenicity of carbohydrates and haptens in several clinically approved conjugate vaccines.

Pattern recognition receptors

Family of cell surface proteins, including Toll-like and C-type lectin receptors, that bind conserved molecular structures in pathogens, playing key roles in innate immune defence.

Author contributions

C.P., R.F. and A.F.-T. researched data for the article and contributed to writing; C.P. and A.F.-T. contributed substantially to discussion of content; C.P. and A.F.-T. contributed to writing and reviewing/editing of the manuscript before submission.

Competing interests

A.F.-T. is co-inventor on patents and patent applications that include synthetic QS-21 variants mentioned in this work. C.P. and R.F. declare no competing interests.