Abstract: Immunotherapy comprises administration of an alkaloid at a dose sufficient to induce IL-2 production in dendritic cells in a patient. The alkaloid induces the production of IL-2 in dendritic cells. The alkaloids need not be naturally occurring, and may be synthetic analogues or derivatives of naturally occurring counterparts. Such analogues or derivatives are preferably pharmaceutically acceptable analogues, salts, isomers or derivatives as herein defined. However, preferred alkaloids are phytochemicals. Such phytochemicals may be isolated from natural sources or synthesised in vitro. Particularly preferred are alkaloids is selected from piperidine alkaloids; pyrrolin alkaloids; pyrrolidine alkaloids; pyrolizidine alkaloids: indolizidine alkaloids and nortropane alkaloids.

Abstract: An adjuvant composition comprises a Th1-activating alkaloid, optionally further comprising an auxiliary adjuvant selected from a type 2 adjuvant (e.g. alum and/or MF59), a type 1 adjuvant and/or a balanced adjuvant. Vaccines comprising the adjuvant composition include nucleic acid(s) which encode one or more antigenic protein(s); protein(s) or peptide(s); glycoprotein(s); polysaccharide(s) (e.g. carbohydrate(s)); fusion protein(s); lipid(s); glycolipid(s); peptide mimic(s) of polysaccharides carbohydrate(s) and a protein(s) in admixture; carbohydrate-protein conjugate(s); cells or extracts thereof; dead or attenuated cells or extracts thereof; tumour cells or extracts thereof; viral particles (e.g. attenuated viral particles or viral components); allergen(s) mixtures thereof.