Lipid A mimetics are potent adjuvants for an intranasal pneumonic plague vaccine.

An effective intranasal (i.n.) vaccine against pneumonic plague was developed.

Induction of innate immunity by lipid A mimetics increases survival from pneumonic plague.

This study analysed the effect of priming the innate immune system using synthetic lipid A mimetics in a Yersinia pestis murine pulmonary infection model. Two aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate (AGP) Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligands, delivered intranasally, extended time to death or protected against a lethal Y. pestis CO92 challenge.