Surreal illustration of adjuvants Freund and Addavax combining with CpG oligonucleotides.

Boost Your Immune Response: How Freund's and AddaVax Adjuvants are Evolving with CpG Oligonucleotides

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the Next Generation of Adjuvants: A Guide to Enhancing Vaccine Effectiveness with CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides"

In the ever-evolving landscape of vaccine development, adjuvants play a pivotal role. These substances are added to vaccines to boost the body's immune response, making the vaccine more effective. For years, Freund's adjuvant has been a gold standard in animal research, known for stimulating high antibody titers. However, scientists are continually seeking ways to improve upon existing methods, aiming for even better results with enhanced safety.

One promising avenue of exploration involves the use of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-DNA). These molecules, which mimic the immunostimulatory effects of bacterial DNA, have shown potential in enhancing immune responses in various animal models. Researchers are investigating whether incorporating CpG-DNA into traditional adjuvant regimens can lead to more robust and targeted immune reactions.

This article delves into a study that explores the impact of CpG-DNA when combined with Freund's and AddaVax adjuvants. AddaVax, a squalene-based nanoemulsion, offers an alternative to Freund's, known for its ease of use and quicker processing from the injection site. By understanding how CpG-DNA interacts with these adjuvants, we can pave the way for more effective vaccine formulations and improved immune responses.

CpG Oligonucleotides: Revolutionizing Adjuvant Therapy

Surreal illustration of adjuvants Freund and Addavax combining with CpG oligonucleotides.

The study detailed in the research paper investigates how incorporating CpG-DNA into existing adjuvant regimens affects the immune response in mice. Mice were immunized using Freund's adjuvant, a well-established method, and AddaVax, a squalene-based alternative. The key innovation was the addition of CpG-DNA to these adjuvants to see if it could further enhance the immune response.

The researchers compared several immunization protocols:

Standard Freund's protocol: This involved an initial immunization with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (ACFA) followed by subsequent immunizations with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (AIFA).
AIFA + CpG-DNA: In this group, mice received AIFA supplemented with CpG-DNA for all immunizations.
AddaVax alone: Mice were immunized with antigen emulsified in AddaVax.
AddaVax + CpG-DNA: This group received AddaVax supplemented with CpG-DNA.

The results indicated a trend toward higher antibody titers when CpG-DNA was used with either adjuvant. Additionally, mice immunized with AIFA+CpG-DNA showed a tendency for higher relative affinity antibodies compared to those immunized with the standard Freund's protocol. These findings suggest that CpG-DNA may enhance the immune response, although further studies with different antigens are needed to confirm whether this is a generalized effect.

Future Directions and Implications

This research highlights the potential benefits of incorporating CpG-DNA into adjuvant regimens to enhance vaccine effectiveness. The study opens doors for further exploration into optimizing vaccine formulations and improving immune responses. As the field advances, personalized approaches to vaccine development may become a reality, ensuring more effective protection against infectious diseases for everyone.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1089/mab.2018.0022, Alternate LINK

Title: Advancing Freund'S And Addavax Adjuvant Regimens Using Cpg Oligodeoxynucleotides

Subject: Immunology

Journal: Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy

Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc

Authors: David Hawksworth

Published: 2018-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What role do adjuvants like Freund's and AddaVax play in vaccines, and why is there a need to improve them?

Adjuvants, such as Freund's adjuvant and AddaVax, are crucial components added to vaccines to amplify the body's immune response, making the vaccine more effective. Freund's adjuvant has been a standard in animal research for its ability to stimulate high antibody titers. However, the scientific community continually seeks to enhance existing methods for even better results, focusing on improved effectiveness and safety. Exploring new avenues like incorporating CpG oligonucleotides (CpG-DNA) aims to create more robust and targeted immune reactions.

How do CpG oligonucleotides (CpG-DNA) work to potentially enhance vaccine effectiveness when used with adjuvants like Freund's and AddaVax?

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-DNA) mimic the immunostimulatory effects of bacterial DNA and have shown potential in enhancing immune responses. When combined with adjuvants like Freund's adjuvant and AddaVax, CpG-DNA may further boost the immune response, leading to higher antibody titers and potentially higher relative affinity antibodies. Researchers are exploring whether incorporating CpG-DNA into traditional adjuvant regimens can lead to more robust and targeted immune reactions.

What were the different immunization protocols used in the study, and what did they aim to compare regarding Freund's adjuvant, AddaVax, and CpG-DNA?

The study compared several immunization protocols in mice: 1. Standard Freund's protocol: Initial immunization with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (ACFA) followed by subsequent immunizations with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (AIFA). 2. AIFA + CpG-DNA: Mice received AIFA supplemented with CpG-DNA for all immunizations. 3. AddaVax alone: Mice were immunized with antigen emulsified in AddaVax. 4. AddaVax + CpG-DNA: This group received AddaVax supplemented with CpG-DNA. The aim was to determine if adding CpG-DNA to Freund's adjuvant and AddaVax could further enhance the immune response, measured by antibody titers and relative antibody affinity, compared to using the adjuvants alone.

What were the main findings regarding the use of CpG-DNA with Freund's adjuvant (AIFA) and AddaVax in terms of antibody responses?

The research indicated a trend toward higher antibody titers when CpG-DNA was used in conjunction with either Freund's adjuvant (AIFA) or AddaVax. Specifically, mice immunized with AIFA+CpG-DNA showed a tendency for higher relative affinity antibodies compared to those immunized with the standard Freund's protocol. These results suggest that CpG-DNA has the potential to enhance the immune response when used with these adjuvants, although further studies are needed to confirm if this effect is consistent across different antigens. This highlights the potential of CpG-DNA in optimizing vaccine formulations.

What are the future directions and implications of research involving CpG-DNA and adjuvants like Freund's and AddaVax for vaccine development and personalized medicine?

Future research aims to optimize vaccine formulations and improve immune responses by incorporating CpG-DNA into adjuvant regimens. This research opens the door for personalized approaches to vaccine development, potentially leading to more effective protection against infectious diseases. By understanding how CpG-DNA interacts with adjuvants like Freund's adjuvant and AddaVax, scientists can tailor vaccine formulations to elicit more robust and targeted immune responses, moving towards personalized medicine in vaccine development.