Oboge, H., et al. Immunogenicity of Theileria parva p67C Antigen Delivered via Adjuvanted CoPoP Liposomes in Cattle and Mice. Vaccines (Basel). 2026 May 20, 14(5):459. PMID: 42188829

This paper explores the application of CoPoP liposome-based nanotechnology, particularly focusing on the incorporation of saponins like QS-21 as adjuvants, to enhance vaccine efficacy in livestock, specifically cattle. It investigates how these formulations can present antigens more effectively and stimulate robust immune responses, with QS-21 showing promise due to its broader activation of innate immune pathways, likely through inflammasome activation, compared to other adjuvants like PHAD. This study evaluates the SNAP technology (using CoPoP liposomes), a rapid, flexible, plug-and-play platform, in large animals, revealing significant differences in immune responses between mice and cattle. The research underscores the challenges of translating small-animal success to livestock due to species-specific immune mechanisms, highlighting the critical need to optimize adjuvant doses and formulations for complex pathogens like Theileria parva. Overall, it advances our understanding of saponin adjuvants in veterinary vaccines, emphasizing their potential to activate conserved innate pathways, and underscores the importance of tailored approaches to improve vaccine efficacy in resource-limited settings.

The study found that CoPoP liposomes induced strong immune responses in mice but were less effective in cattle. QS-21 formulations elicited comparable antibody responses to traditional adjuvants in cattle but lacked cellular immunity. In mice, p67C-CPQ produced a 2000-fold higher antibody level. In vitro, Quil-A activated innate pathways across species, but in vivo response in cattle was limited, highlighting the need to optimize dose and adjuvants for livestock. The platform effectively presents antigens, but its efficacy in larger animals depends on formulation adjustments.