A composition is provided comprising a novel cationic lipid compound having hydrophobic tails and two quaternary ammonium headgroups bridged by a linker. The composition is useful as a cytofectin for facilitating delivery and transfection of biologically active agents, particularly anionic bioactive agents such as DNA, into cells. The composition is useful also as an adjuvant for enhancing the humoral immune response of a vertebrate to an immunogen, especially an immunogen encoded by a polynucleotide-based vaccine. In certain preferred embodiments, the cationic lipid compound is a dimer containing quaternary ammonium headgroups bridged by a linker having DNA and/or cell receptor binding affinity, such as a polypeptide or polyamine. Also disclosed is an immunogenic composition comprising an immunogen and the composition of the present invention.
                            提供了一种组合物,其中包含一种新型阳离子脂质化合物,其具有疏
水尾和两个季
铵头基,由连接剂桥接。该组合物可用作细胞转染剂,以促进
生物活性剂(特别是DNA等阴离子
生物活性剂)的传递和转染到细胞中。该组合物还可用作佐剂,以增强脊椎动物对免疫原(特别是由多核苷酸疫苗编码的免疫原)的体液免疫反应。在某些优选实施例中,阳离子脂质化合物是一个二聚体,包含由DNA和/或细胞受体结合亲和力的季
铵头基桥接的连接剂,例如
多肽或
多胺。本发明还公开了一种包含免疫原和本发明的组合物的免疫原组合物。