Programming Multifaceted Pulmonary T-Cell Immunity by Combination Adjuvants

Induction of protective mucosal T-cell memory remains a formidable challenge to vaccinologists. Using a novel adjuvant strategy that elicits unusually potent CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses, we have defined the tenets of vaccine-induced pulmonary T-cell immunity. An acrylic acid-based adjuvant (ADJ), in combination with TLR agonists glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA) or CpG promoted mucosal imprinting but engaged distinct transcription programs to drive different degrees of terminal differentiation and disparate polarization of TH1/TC1/TH17/TC17 effector/memory T cells. Combination of ADJ with GLA, but not CpG, dampened TCR signaling, mitigated terminal differentiation of effectors and enhanced the development of CD4 and CD8 TRM that protected against H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses. Mechanistically, vaccine-elicited CD4 T cells played a vital role in optimal programming of CD8 TRM and anti-viral immunity. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into vaccine-induced multi-faceted mucosal T-cell immunity with significant implications in the development of vaccines against respiratory pathogens. One Sentence SummaryAdjuvants Induce Multipronged T-Cell Immunity in the Respiratory Tract.