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Abstract
The envelope proteins (the peplomers) of enveloped viruses are the components that
are important for induction of protective immunity. This article reviews methods and
problems of making subunit vaccines of peplomers. In the first section, the solubilization
of enveloped viruses with detergent is discussed. The preparation of envelope proteins
into defined different physical forms is described, i.e. monomeric and micelle forms
and the reconstitution of the protein into lipid vesicles (virosomes). Finally, the
preparation of a new type of complex is described (named iscom), which is highly immunogenic.
In the following sections the efficacy of the different physical forms are reviewed
and it is concluded that monomeric forms must be avoided since they are poorly immunogenic
and they may even have a suppressive effect on the immune response. The multimeric
micelles, virosomes and iscoms are all immunogenic. The iscom is an interesting new
concept that can be used to produce efficient subunit vaccines.