| abstract |
The invention relates to a liposome comprising a chloroform soluble and extractable total polar lipid of Mycobacterium spp, particularly a chloroform soluble extractable total polar lipid of Mycobacterium spp BCG. The chloroform soluble and extractable polar lipid may comprise at least one of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol mannoside (PIM1), phosphatidylinositol dimannoside (PIM2), mono and dipalmitoylated forms of PIM1 and PIM2, phospholipid of 899 m/z, phosphatidylethanolamine and cardiolipid. The liposome may be prepared by drying chloroform soluble and extractable lipid and then hydrating said dried lipid at a temperature of 65 to 75 °C in water or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The liposome may be used, for example, to activate dendritic cells to secrete cytokines and modulate an immune response in a mammal, or to direct an immune response to confer protection against a pathogen or a cancer. |