Poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres as carriers for peptide vaccines.

Peptides carrying an immunodominant T-helper cell epitope delineated from the rabies virus nucleoprotein either alone or in combination with a linear B-cell epitope from the same protein were incorporated into three different formulations of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) which were distinct in their composition, and consequently in their peptide release rates. In vitro peptides incorporated into any of the PLG formulations stimulated a peptide-specific T-cell line. Upon subcutaneous immunization of mice, the PLG formulation that showed the fastest peptide release rate induced the best immune response. This immune response was in magnitude comparable or even superior to that induced by peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant.