Medical Research Archives Volume 2 Issue 5 July 2016. Adjuvants and Additives in Human and Animal Vaccines ADJUVANTS AND ADDITIVES IN HUMAN AND ANIMAL VACCINES *Author W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet, 938 Stanford Street, Santa Monica, California, United States of America Email: [email protected] Abstract : Vaccines typically contain immunologic adjuvants and other additives which act to accelerate, prolong, or enhance antigen-specific immune responses when used together with specific vaccine antigens. Nevertheless, despite ongoing questions about their efficacy and safety, millions of individuals have received these vaccines with relatively few documented adverse events. Vaccine pharmacovigilance is the term used to remind all of us that vaccines carry an inherent, albeit small, risk ( CIOMS/WHO 2012) . Key words: vaccine, adjuvants, additives Copyright 2016 KEI Journals. All rights reserved. 1 Medical Research Archives Volume 2 Issue 5 July 2016. Adjuvants and Additives in Human and Animal Vaccines Introduction: Tomljenovic L 2013, Shaw CA, Li D and Countless individuals have been vaccinated Tomljenovic L 2014, Spickler AR and Roth routinely and repeatedly for the common, JA 2003, Stejskal V 2013, Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA 2012, 2016, Vogel FR 2000, serious infectious viral and bacterial diseases without obvious untoward effects Wilson-Welder JH et al. 2009). (Dodds WJ 1997, 1999, Tizard I 1990, While current vaccine adjuvants can Wellborn LV et al. 2011). But, medical successfully generate humoral antibody- professionals still need to be aware of the mediated protection, other diseases such as potential for adverse events (AE) and tuberculosis and malaria require a cell- determine what constitutes "acceptable" mediated immune response for adequate harm (Dodds WJ 1997,1999, Tizard I 1990). protection (Wilson-Welder JH et al. 2009). A variety of immunologic adjuvants and Discussion: other additives are incorporated into today’s human and animal vaccines; they are 1. Killed Inactivated vs Modified-Live intended to accelerate, prolong, or enhance Vaccines antigen-specific immune responses when Although killed or inactivated products used together with specific vaccine antigens make up about 15% of the veterinary (Aucouturier J, Dupuis L and Ganne V biologicals used today, they have been 2001, Cerpa-Cruz S et al. 2013, Heegaard associated with 85% of the post-vaccination PM et al. 2011, Nordly P et al. 2009, Sayers reactions, mainly because of the acute S et al. 2012, Spickler AR and Roth JA adverse responses induced by the adjuvants 2003). While these additives are and other additives used in companion incorporated into vaccines to enhance and animal, wildlife and livestock species prolong their immunogenicity, this increases (Dodds WJ, 1997, 2016 a,b, Luján L et al. the risk of autoimmune and inflammatory 2013, Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA 2012, adverse events following vaccination 2016). However, the debate about the (Cerpa-Cruz S et al. 2013). For the killed relative merits and safety of the killed, vaccines available for human and veterinary inactivated versus the MLV vaccines, which use, potent adjuvants and additives are are recognized to elicit a longer duration of included to produce a more sustained immunity (DOI) (Dodds WJ 1999, Wellborn humoral immune response and compete LV et al. 2011), has been ongoing, and was favorably with the longer protection hotly debated in a comparison of the risks, typically afforded by modified-live virus costs, and convenience of killed versus (MLV) products. But, these adjuvants and modified live human polio vaccines additives may also induce adverse effects (Stratton KR, Howe CJ and Johnston RB Jr, (Cerpa-Cruz S et al. 2013, Cruz-Tapias P et 1994). Documented AE from the adjuvants al. 2013, Dodds WJ 1997, 2015, 2016a, used in human vaccines, especially those Israeli E et al. 2009; Leventhal JS et al. containing aluminum and thimerosal 2012, Liu Y et al. 2012, Luján L et al. 2013, (mercury salt), continue to appear in the Perricone C et al. 2013, Shaw CA and Copyright 2016 KEI Journals. All rights reserved. 2 Medical Research Archives Volume 2 Issue 5 July 2016. Adjuvants and Additives in Human and Animal Vaccines literature (Perricone C et al. 2013, Shaw CA In their landmark book (Schoenfeld Y, and Tomljenovic L 2013, Shaw CA, Li D Agmon-Levin N and Tomljenovic L, 2015) and Tomljenovic L 2014, Stejskal V 2013, stated: Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA 2012, 2016). “because vaccines are delivered to billions of people without preliminary screening 2. Potential Adverse Events and Toxicity efforts and severe even fatal reactions can Published experimental studies have shown occur, there is concern about what this that simultaneous administration of even means for today’s population of people”. two or three adjuvants is capable of overcoming genetic resistance to Vaxjo is a newly published, web-based autoimmunity (Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA vaccine adjuvant database (Sayers S et al. 2012). Further, because vaccines are viewed 2012) . Basic vaccine information stored as inherently safe and non-toxic, toxicity includes: adjuvant name, components, studies are often excluded from their structure, appearance, storage, preparation, regulatory safety assessment. Children are function, safety, and vaccines that use this especially at risk being more vulnerable to adjuvant. Currently over 100 vaccine toxicity than adults; and they are regularly adjuvants have been annotated in Vaxjo. exposed to more vaccine adjuvants and These adjuvants have been used in over 380 additives than adults (Stratton KR, Howe CJ vaccines against over 81 pathogens, cancers, and Johnston RB Jr, 1994). Adjuvants or allergies. impact the central nervous system (CNS) at 2.1 The ASIA Syndrome all levels and can do so by changing gene expression (Shaw CA, Li D and The term “autoimmune inflammatory Tomljenovic L 2014), and play a key role in syndrome induced by adjuvants” (ASIA) brain development and immune function was first given to the disease symptoms that Shaw CA and Tomljenovic L 2013, Shaw follow vaccinations in 2011 ( Cruz-Tapias P CA, Li D and Tomljenovic L 2014, Stejskal et al. 2013, Perricone C et al. 2013, Stejskal V 2013, Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA 201l, V 2013) . Many are vague and include 2012). However, more recently, concerns arthralgia, myalgia, paraesthesia, and have focused not only on the effects of weakness. These signs are often considered vaccine antigens but also on the widespread deemed to be “insignificant” and are thus use of aluminum and mercury-containing generally ignored by the treating doctors. compounds in the vaccines given to humans The progression from mild symptoms to and animals (Cerpa-Cruz S et al. 2013, full-blown autoimmune disease can take Davis HL 2008, Perricone C et al. 2013, months and is insidious. Aa acute clinical Shaw CA and Tomljenovic L 2013, Shaw manifestation of the ASIA disease is usually CA, Li D and Tomljenovic L 2014, Spickler seen after the second or anamnestic response AR and Roth JA 2003, Stejskal V 2013, to a mild or sub-clinical prior vaccinal event Tomljenovic L and Shaw CA 2011, 2012, (Schoenfeld Y, Agmon-Levin N and 2016). Tomljenovic L, 2015). Copyright 2016 KEI Journals. All rights reserved. 3 Medical Research Archives Volume 2 Issue 5 July 2016. Adjuvants and Additives in Human and Animal Vaccines 2.2 Clinical Symptoms prevalence of herpes virus varicella-zoster disease (Hambleton S and Gershon AA Vaccine AE have been linked to chronic 2005). The varicella (chicken pox) and fatigue syndrome, polymyalgia, zoster (shingles) viral diseases are caused by polyarthritis, encephalitis, myocarditis, a small alpha, herpes virus, that is similar to macrophagic fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis, but distinct from the more common herpes systemic lupus erythematosus and even simplex virus of cold sores. Shingles is due “Gulf War Syndrome” (Schoenfeld Y, to reactivation of a latent varicella virus Agmon-Levin N and Tomljenovic L, 2015). exposure in early life (Hambleton S and 2.3 Ischemic Dermatopathy Gershon AA 2005). Complications of these virus diseases and potentially their vaccines Safety issues are commonly raised in cases can affect the CNS. However, vaccination of vaccine-induced ischemic against chicken pox (varicella) is highly dermatopathies, especially following rabies effective, producing an 84-100% reduction vaccination (Vitale CB, Gross TL and Magro CM 1999, Morris DO 2013). In dogs, in disease over the ensuing 2-8 years post- ischemic dermatopathy is classified into vaccination. Even among the non- three groups: post-rabies vaccination vaccinated, chicken pox declined as an alopecia, dermatomyositis, and idiopathic, indication of the effect of so-called “herd immunity” within the region. all three of which probably have a similar pathogenesis (Vitale CB, Gross TL and Breakthrough varicella cases are usually Magro CM 1999, Wilcock BP and Yager JA mild and can occur due to exposure to the 1986). Clinically, these three forms exhibit wild type varicella-zoster virus. But, variable alopecia, erosions, ulcers, crusts, immunity from either the MLV or killed and hyperpigmentation in a focal or inactivated vaccines can last up to 20 years. multifocal distribution. In post-rabies Breakthrough clinical signs are either vaccine alopecia, lesions are typically seen primary or secondary events: primary being above the interscapular region, but can also due to genetic vaccine non-responders or involve the face, pinnae, foot pads, tip of the improper vaccine storage conditions, tail, and skin overlying bony protuberances. whereas secondary cases show a decreased These other locations also are involved in in immune protective response over time. dermatomyositis and idiopathic ischemic The 10-year breakthrough rate in children is dematopathy, thereby confounding the 2-34% (Hambleton S and Gershon AA diagnosis (Vitale CB, Gross TL and Magro 2005). In immunocompromised groups, the CM 1999). Regardless of the inciting cause, rate of herpes zoster breakthrough infection the tissue injury occurs because of is 4-20 times higher. One suggested option inadequate delivery of oxygen to the to reduce the breakthrough rate is to give damaged area (Morris DO 2013).