The ability of FcR-mediated uptake of antigen to induce a rapid and high level T cell response by using specific antibodies, suggested that FcR-mediated delivery of antigen could potentially constitute an effective adjuvant system in a vaccination strategy to boost protective immunity against pathogens or tumors in the absence of additional adjuvants [Gosselin et al., 1992; Heijinen et al., 1996]. We have recently demonstrated that this phenomenon is valid for activating Th1 response against chlamydia and that it requires specific antibody isotypes (unpublished observation). FcR delivery of antigen using specific antibody isotypes therefore furnishes an additional vaccine strategy to boost protective immunity against chlamydia.

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